When Mark Hamill Was Pranked by Billy Dee Williams in Front of Princess Margaret

by Mason Segall

What's a few pranks that make you look like a fool in front of royalty between co-stars, am I right? Turns out that's what this picture below of ​Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Frank Oz meeting Princess Margaret in 1980 is actually about.

The encounter occurred at the London premiere of The Empire Strikes Back, where Queen Elizabeth II's sister was in attendance. According to Hamill, who was responding to Williams's post of the picture on social media, his nervous aura and downcast eyes were the result of a prank played on him by the Lando Calrissian actor.

"This photo was snapped moments after @realbdw told me that direct eye contact with royalty was an offense punishable by imprisonment in the Tower of London," posted the ​66-year-old actor. The tale is only confirmed by Williams's subtle smirk.

Fortunately, Hamill got to make up for his mistake by getting chummy with Princes William and Harry when they came to the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

While Hamill's involvement in the production was minimal and the princes' one scene was eventually cut from the film, they apparently bonded offscreen, with Hamill regaling the royals with tales from his previous films and leading them on a tour around the set. Hopefully this has restored him in the eyes of the House of Windsor.