Dolly Parton reveals the hilarious reason why she turned down afternoon tea with Kate Middleton

Dolly Parton has revealed the hilarious reason she turned down an invitation to tea with the Princess of Wales.

The country singer, 77, explained that she received the coveted invitation from Kate Middleton, 41, while in London for work.

Sharing her love for the capital, the Jolene singer admitted that she almost shook the shoulders of the residents of Buckingham Palace, but unfortunately “couldn’t go.”

Dolly said during an appearance on BBC Radio 2: ‘This time, Lordy, I was even invited to have tea with Kate, but I couldn’t even go.

“I thought it was very sweet and kind of her to invite me and one of these days I will, that would be great.”

Respect: The country singer, 77, explained that she received the coveted invite from Kate Middleton, 41, (pictured in December) while in London for work

Then, in true Dolly Parton style, she joked about why she declined Kate’s invitation. She said, “But she wasn’t planning on promoting my rock album, so I had to say no.”

She explained that she regretted not exploring more of the city during her tour, but concluded that she never had enough time to play tourist.

The singer told host and presenter Claudia Winkleman about her admiration for the capital.

Dolly said, ‘I like the people, the feel of London. I unfortunately don’t (get time to sightsee). I’ve been on a tour bus in the past, me and my band, when we planned to.’

It comes after the star said she would rather “drop dead” on stage in the middle of a song than hang up the mic in a new interview.

Despite approaching a six-decade career in the music industry, Dolly has no plans to retire.

“I would never retire. Hopefully one day I’ll drop dead on stage in the middle of a song – and hopefully a song I wrote – but that’s how I hope it goes too,” she told Ken Bruce. Greatest Hits radio.

‘I have little choice in that, but in the meantime I’m going to make hay while the sun is shining’.

Dolly owns an extensive catalog of some 3,000 songs, featuring iconic belters like Jolene and I Will Always Love You.

Missed out: The Jolene singer (pictured in June) admitted she almost shrugged with Buckingham Palace residents but sadly ‘couldn’t go’

While the country music sensation is determined to keep performing, she admits she has scaled back her work schedule at some points.

“I don’t tour anymore, but I will continue to do special shows here and there, like a long weekend or festival shows,” she said.

“But when it comes to touring, I think those days are pretty much behind me… you have to be away from a tour that long to make it productive and prosperous and that’s a lot of time at my age – I don’t have years to waste.”

Instead of living on the road, Dolly said she wants to host more TV shows or star in more movies.

“I want to have my own story, The Life of Many Colors, where I have a whole TV series about my life,” she said.

“Things that people haven’t seen or heard about me and where I come from and how I became, how and who I am. The bad, the good and the ugly!’

“So that’s one thing I want to do and then just host more TV shows, do more movies. I want my own make-up line, my own line of wigs and clothes.

“Once you get to a certain place in your career, you get a lot of offers and some of them are just really hard to turn down.”

The interview comes after Dolly’s announcement of her new album Rockstar; her 49th studio album, due out in November.

The album will feature 30 tracks – nine original songs by Parton and 21 classic rock covers featuring collaborators such as Elton John, Sting, Pink and more.

Icon: ‘I would never retire. Hopefully one day I’ll drop dead on stage in the middle of a song — and hopefully a song I wrote,” Dolly previously said (pictured in 1977)