Ed Sheeran shows off scar inflicted by Princess Beatrice's sword

Ed Sheeran’s clearly not hiding away until that nasty Action Man-style scar disappears.

Hey, maybe he even LIKES it. But one thing’s for certain – Ed’s head will NEVER be the same ever again.

In case you didn’t hear the weekend’s gossip, the unsightly slice to the Sheeran cheek was formed when an overenthusiastic Princess Beatrice decided to set up a fake knighting ceremony for James Blunt at a royal shindig. Yes, really.

Unluckily for Ed, he was caught in the crossfire.

And since the 25-year-old was booked to perform at the East Anglia Children’s Hospices gala dinner at the Natural History Museum last night, he couldn’t really avoid mentioning that huge gash on his face.

“It’s nice to be back,” he told the crowd. “I’ve had a whole year off. I went to Japan for about a month and hung out with Japanese people. Got my face cut open, anyone read about that?”

Yes, yes, we did! And frankly we’re just happy Ed’s still able to perform. She could’ve had his eye out!

An insider at the party, which took place at Princess Andrew’s royal pad in Windsor, said that Beatrice misjudged the weight of the sword and had no idea Ed was right behind her.

He was rushed to hospital for treatment with his girlfriend Cherry Seaborn, and although the cut was stitched up it looks pretty likely to leave a nasty scar.

“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,” an insider told The Sun. “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.”

Beatrice was said to be “inconsolable”.

However, rather than head home to lick his wounds, Ed actually went straight back to the royal bash and picked up where he’d left off.

That’s the spirit! Let’s just hope someone had put the sword back in the cupboard.