Renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen has offered up a less than flattering opinion of the Royal Family, holding little back after describing the late Queen as “quite rude”.
The Lord of the Rings star made his true feelings known about the Monarchy during an interview with The Times in which he 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.
“The Queen, I’m sure she was quite mad at the end. And on the few occasions I met her she was quite rude,” he said.
“When I received a medal for acting (the Companion of Honour in 2008), she said, ‘You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time’.
“I said, ‘Well, not as long as you.’ I got a royal smile for that, but then she said, ‘Does anyone still actually go to the theatre?’.
“That’s bloody rude when you’re giving someone a medal for acting.
“It meant, ‘Does anyone care a f*** about you because I don’t. Now off you go!'”.
If that wasn’t enough, McKellen also offered his stance on Prince Harry’s feud with the Royal Family, telling the publication that he is “most definitely on Harry’s side”.
McKellen’s comments come as he recovers from a fall he suffered at the Noel Coward Theatre during a fight scene in the production of Player Kings.
Following the fall, a spokesperson for the London theatre assured fans that McKellen “will make a speedy and full recovery” in a statement to the PA news agency
“Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during this evening’s performance of Player Kings,” the spokesperson said at the time.
“Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits.”
Reports indicated the actor cried out in pain as theatre staff quickly came to his aid. Audience member Paul Critchley described the fall as a “shock” to witness.
Despite initial concern, many were overjoyed when the 85-year-old revealed that he was “on the mend”
-with PA.