Dolly Parton had to turn down the British royal family when Kate Middleton invited her to tea.

The queen of country, 77, joked to BBC Radio 2 this past weekend that she “couldn’t even go” to tea with the princess, 41, as Middleton “wasn’t going to promote my rock album” while Parton was in London.

“So I had to say no,” quipped Parton, whose new album will feature the likes of several British music icons like former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

In reality, the “Jolene” singer said she “felt so bad” she couldn’t take Middleton up on the invite as she promotes her album, “Rockstar,” due out this November.

“This time, Lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate,” said Parton. “They had all this stuff set up.”

Had Parton been able to make it work, it wouldn’t have been the first time she had a brush with royalty. She performed for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Speaking to Insider earlier this year, Parton recalled she was “scared to death” to incorrectly curtsy for the late monarch, who she said was “very warm, very sweet.”

Ultimately, Parton said it “was amazing” to meet the queen, who died last September as the U.K.’s longest-reigning monarch.

Other rock stars who will feature on “Rockstar” include Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood and The Police frontman Sting.

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