British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran was reportedly rushed to hospital after Princess Beatrice sliced his face with a sword in a mock-knighting of fellow musician James Blunt.
Sheeran and Blunt were guests at a weekend party thrown by the 28-year-old princess at her father’s home, the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Blunt, the former Life Guard best known for his hit 2004 song You’re Beautiful, is said to have joked to Beatrice that he would love to become “Sir James”.
According to The Sun on Sunday, the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson kindly obliged his request.
She picked up a heavy ceremonial sword while Blunt knelt on one knee.
However, she is said to have swung the sword back, unaware that 25-year-old Sheeran was behind her, catching him on the cheek.
The singer was rushed to a nearby hospital to be treated.
“The blade cut into his face and it was just a few inches from his right eye,” a source told the paper. “A couple of the guests said it could have been worse and he could have been blinded in the eye, but Ed really played it down.
“Everyone was totally shocked and apparently Beatrice was very upset. But Ed was the perfect gentleman and told her it was just an accident.
“However, it became apparent that the wound needed treatment, so Ed was taken to hospital. He had to have stitches put in.”
Sheeran was at the party with his girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn. After being treated he returned to the party.
The pop star behind the Grammy Award-winning song Thinking Out Loud was well enough to perform at a concert in London.
Around 20 people were said to be at the event, including the Princess’ mother, the Duchess of York. Her father was away on a trade mission.
A representative for the Royal Family declined to comment on the matter and Sheeran did not immediately respond to request for comment.
A photo showed him with a cut to his right cheek, posing with Irish singer Andy Patterson.
