Sam, the 8-year-old son of Tim and Donna Rowe, had been waiting along with his grade three and four classmates for the royal visitor to arrive at Bendigo Art Gallery.

Princess Charlene was in Bendigo to officially open the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition on Saturday.

With flowers in hand, Sam attracted the royal gaze and secured a kiss for his efforts.

“When we were on the stairs waiting, the kids had been told by people from the palace not to give her flowers,” Mrs Rowe said.

“But when the princess came past she said ‘they are so beautiful, I will have to give you a kiss’.

Sam gets a kiss from Princess Charlene on Saturday. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

“I think he was really chuffed but he was a little bit embarrassed. Everyone was saying to him ‘you got kissed by the princess’.”

Bendigo’s primary schools had their names put into a hat to win the chance to greet Princess Charlene.

Strathfieldsaye Primary School’s name came out and the students waved the Australian and Monaco flags.

Sam said the highlight of the night was watching Princess Charlene walk up the red carpet towards him.

“It was good. I gave her flowers and she gave me a kiss,” he said.

Sam said the kiss made him smile and he thought his friends might be jealous.

The world’s press captured Sam’s kiss and Mrs Rowe said she had been visiting global websites and printing off the pictures of her son.

“I have got all the photos from the websites,” she said.

“There were so many kids there and Sam got a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was such a special opportunity to talk and get a kiss from the princess.”

Mrs Rowe said her sister had prepared the bouquet of flowers.

She said the kiss prompted a flurry of messages and calls.

“Sam was pretty embarrassed holding the flowers but she talked to him,” Mrs Rowe said.

“It was just so exciting for all the kids. It was just lovely for them.

“If you look in the back of the photos, all the parents were just as excited.”