Dolly Parton would love to meet up with Kate Middleton and her family, even though she declined an invitation from the Princess of Wales in 2023. She has now extended a warm invite to Kate Middleton and Price William, along with their children, 11-year-old George, 9-year-old Charlotte, and 6-year-old Louis. “Oh, I would absolutely love for them to come to Dollywood, that would be fantastic!” the country icon said during a recent interview.
Speaking to Closer, the 78-year-old icon explained why having the royals visit her amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, would be so much fun for the kids.
“The kids could go on all the rides and we would treat them like royalty!” she told the publication. “I would love to have those kids at Dollywood!”
Additionally, she would help the royals feel at home by cooking for them. “I’d give Kate my mashed potatoes — I wouldn’t put on any airs for them,” she told Closer. “I would just let them enjoy what we enjoy, and I’m sure that’s the way they would want it.”
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The friendly invite comes about a year after Dolly declined an invitation from Kate. In August 2023, Dolly was in the UK to promote her album Rockstar. At the time, the Princess of Wales invited her to tea, but Dolly’s schedule was too packed. On BBC Radio 2, Dolly said that she “felt so bad” she was not able to attend, according to People.
Later, in an interview with the UK’s Saga Exceptional, Dolly said she “didn’t turn the invitation down,” exactly. She just had too much going on. “I was honored and flattered that she even asked me,” she told the magazine, per People. “I only had one full day and I did not have a second to do anything else besides work.”
It’s no surprise that Dolly would love for the royal children visit Dollywood. Though the “Jolene” singer doesn’t have any kids of her own, she recently spoke to Good Housekeeping UK about the elaborate Christmas traditions she partakes in to make Christmas magical for the children (and adults) in her life. Each year, she dresses up as Granny Claus.
“I have all the nieces and nephews and all the grand-nieces and nephews, and all the little kids of the people who work for me, so I’ve kind of adopted a bunch of people,” she told the publication. “And I’ll do whatever I can to put a smile on their faces.”
