Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs was obsessed with the Royal Family – and wanted to meet one senior royal in particular.

The American rapper, 54, is currently being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center while he awaits trial after being charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, transportation and engaging in prostitution. The musician, who has performed under the names Diddy, Puff Daddy and Love, has been sued by several people.

His former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, full name Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, is among those who have accused Combs of rape. Cassie claims she suffered a decade-long pattern of abuse that began when she was 19 years old. The Bad Boy millionaire ‘vehemently denied’ her allegations last year and denies all claims against him.

As the rapper languishes in jail amid the shocking allegations of sexual abuse, numerous stories have come to light about his life outside of the music world. One of them surprisingly suggests Diddy is obsessed with the British royals – and previously expressed his shock at not getting to meet his favourite family member.

A journalist writing for The Telegraph has recalled a conversation she had with Diddy back in 2008. Combs, who was 38 years old at the time, shared how there was one Brit he was desperate to meet – the late Queen Elizabeth II.

He told the interviewer: “The Queen of England. I don’t know why I’ve never met her”. She says he was “visibly baffled” by this oversight. “She’s never invited me to the palace – not yet, anyway,” he added.

The bizarre information comes as Diddy’s former publicist has shared how the music mogul was obsessed with Prince William and Prince Harry. Rob Shuter appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored and claimed Combs invited the royal brothers to his parties on around 10 occasions.

Piers said the two had a “lucky escape” turning down the invites. Rob said: “He used to ask me all the time, because I’m British, he thought that I knew them. I did not… Each day he would text me or call me wanting to know what was going on with the princes.”

The publicist, who worked for Diddy two decades ago, continued: “He asked me on more than 10 occasions if I could get an invite to the palace. I tried to try to get them to one, two, to three of his parties, they never did turn up.”

Combs was arrested in a Manhattan hotel last month, six months after federal authorities raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. The grand jury indictment documents seen by The Mirror detail allegations dating to 2008 that he abused, coerced and threatened women “to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct”.

He is accused of enticing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes days-long sexual performances dubbed “freak offs”. Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee has also stepped forward to declare he is representing 120 new alleged victims who intend to bring civil claims – the youngest were nine, 14 and 15 when the alleged abuse happened.

Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said outside the courthouse on September 17: “Mr Combs is a fighter, he’s going to fight this to the end. He’s innocent. He came to New York to establish his innocence. He’s not afraid, he’s not afraid of the charges.” His legal team has also remarked that Combs “cannot address every meritless allegation in what has become a reckless media circus”.

Combs is expected to be locked up until his trial kicks off on May 5, 2025. The trial is expected to unfold over three weeks, where Diddy will face a Manhattan jury on severe charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. If he is convicted, he is looking at a minimum of 15 years behind bars, or possibly a life sentence.