Renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen is often praised for his performances on screen, but recently, he has faced criticism for making βunreasonableβ comments about the late Queen Elizabeth.
During a recent interview with The Times, McKellen offered up a less than flattering opinion of the Royal Family, holding little back when describing the late Queen as βquite rudeβ.
The Lord of the Rings star recalled the time when Queen Elizabeth appointed him Companion of Honour (CH) for his services to drama and to equality in a ceremony in 2008.
βThe Queen, Iβm sure she was quite mad at the end. And on the few occasions I met her she was quite rude,β he said.
βWhen I received a medal for acting (the Companion of Honour in 2008), she said, βYouβve been doing this for an awfully long timeβ.
βI said, βWell, not as long as you.β I got a royal smile for that, but then she said, βDoes anyone still actually go to the theatre?β.
βThatβs bloody rude when youβre giving someone a medal for acting.
βIt meant, βDoes anyone care a f*** about you because I donβt. Now off you go!ββ.
If that wasnβt enough, McKellen also offered his stance on Prince Harryβs feud with the Royal Family, telling the publication that he is βmost definitely on Harryβs sideβ.
Itβs fair to say that many were surprised by McKellenβs remarks, including royal commentator Richard Palmer who recently hit back at the actor for his comments, claiming that he canβt recall βcoming across somebody who was willing to criticise the Queen such an open wayβ.
βHe describes her as being rude and his main reason seems to be that she said to him βdo people still go to the theatreβ, and heβs taken offence of that,β Palmer explained to GB News.
βI suspect itβs just a way of getting conversation going and talking about how theatre is adapting, still attracting crowds in the West End.β