Princess Charlotte’s Sweet Backstage Request to Mary Poppins Star Revealed

Princess Charlotte made a cute request to the stage star (Image: GETTY)

Princess Charlotte may be accustomed to meeting famous faces at major royal events, but one backstage encounter showed that she could still be completely captivated by a beloved fictional character.

Zizi Strallen, who played Mary Poppins on the West End and is now appearing as Glinda in Wicked, has revealed a touching moment involving Charlotte and her mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales, after the young royal attended a performance of Mary Poppins in London in 2022.

According to Strallen, Catherine brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see the production before taking them backstage to meet its star.

That was when Catherine made a particularly sweet request on behalf of her daughter.

Charlotte Wanted a Hug From Mary Poppins

Strallen recalled that Catherine asked whether Charlotte could have a cuddle with Mary Poppins.

The actress immediately agreed.

“She wanted to hug me, which was really cute,” Strallen said of Charlotte.

The moment suggested that, for Charlotte, the backstage meeting was less about encountering a West End performer and more about coming face-to-face with the character she had just watched on stage.

Strallen described the entire experience of meeting the royals as “surreal.”

The day also brought another unexpected encounter: David and Victoria Beckham attended the same performance with three of their children, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.

Charlotte Was Already Familiar With the Theatre

Kate and William pictured with their three children (Image: GETTY)

The 2022 outing was not Charlotte’s first memorable trip to a major London production.

Two years earlier, when she was five, Charlotte joined Prince William, Catherine and her brothers for a special performance of Pantoland at the London Palladium.

The family attended the festive event in December 2020, giving Charlotte an early introduction to the excitement of a major West End production.

Since then, the young princess has become an increasingly familiar presence at important public and royal occasions alongside her parents and brothers.

Now 11, Charlotte has begun her second-to-last year at Lambrook School in Berkshire.

Charlotte’s Confidence Has Become Increasingly Visible

As Charlotte has grown older, royal observers have frequently noted her confident manner during public appearances.

Royal commentator Katie Nicholl previously described Charlotte as the most outgoing of William and Catherine’s three children, highlighting a strong personality that has become increasingly noticeable as she has grown up.

More recent appearances have also shown Charlotte becoming comfortable with the expectations surrounding royal family events. In 2026, HELLO! highlighted her growing confidence and maturity as she marked her 11th birthday.

Catherine and William have generally tried to balance those public responsibilities with a more ordinary family life for George, Charlotte and Louis.

Parenting expert Jo Frost has previously observed that Catherine frequently interacts with her children at their level and appears to combine clear boundaries with warmth and affection. Frost also singled out Charlotte as the sibling who often appears particularly aware of royal protocol when attending public occasions.

That makes Strallen’s newly shared memory an especially charming contrast.

Away from formal ceremonies and royal protocol, Charlotte was simply a young theatre fan standing backstage after seeing Mary Poppins — and hoping she could get one special hug from the woman who, at least for that evening, had brought the famous character to life.