Princess Beatrice 'slices Ed Sheeran's face with ceremonial sword'

Singer Ed Sheeran was rushed to hospital after Princess Beatrice reportedly sliced his face with a sword when attempting to 'knight' fellow musician James Blunt as a prank at a party.

The Thinking Out Loud hitmaker, 25, suffered a cut to his right cheek when the princess, 28, swung the blade without noticing he was standing behind her.

James Blunt was reportedly involved in the incident.

During the do, Blunt, 42, quipped that he wanted to be knighted and she decided to pick up the blade, according to the Daily Mail.

But it has been reported she was unaware that the Sheeran - who was at the function with his girlfriend Cherry Seaborn - was standing directly behind her.

"The blade cut into his face and it was just a few inches from his right eye," a source told The Sun. "A couple of the guests said it could have been worse and he could have been blinded in the eye, but Ed really played it down.

"Everyone was totally shocked and apparently Beatrice was very upset. But Ed was the perfect gentleman and told her it was just an accident.

"However, it became apparent that the wound needed treatment, so Ed was taken to hospital. He had to have stitches put in."

A cut is visible on Sheeran's face, in this twitter photo with a fan.

Sheeran, attending the party with his girlfriend, Cherry Seaborn, was treated at a nearby hospital before returning to the party.

Read the full story on the NZ Herald.