King Charles may be spending his 76th birthday exploring the frosty climes of an industrial freezer, but the monarch enjoyed somewhat starrier company on Wednesday 13 November as he hosted some of Britain’s acting elite at a Buckingham Palace reception ahead of the Gladiator II premiere.
King Charles held court with the Hollywood elite yesterday, but it was Queen Camilla’s moving documentary that was on his mind. Photo: Getty
Perhaps the dramatically-minded company (including director Sir Ridley Scott) brought out some emotional candor in the King, who revealed that he had been moved to tears by his wife Camilla’s recent documentary, Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors.
Wolf Hall star Damien Lewis told Charles that he had been watching the highly personal program, in which Queen Camilla vows to fight against domestic violence until she is ‘able to no more’. After reciprocating the praise – telling Lewis that he is ‘fantastic’ in his portrayal of Henry VIII – King Charles told the actor how moving he found Camilla’s documentary.
But it was in a discussion with the show’s director and producers, Kerene Barefield and Naveed Chowdhary-Flatt, that the King truly opened up about just how meaningful the program had been for him. “I am very proud of it,” he said. “It reduced me to tears.”
King Charles III and Queen Camilla view costumes and items from films during a reception to celebrate those who work within the TV and film industry, at Buckingham Palace on 13 November 2024. Photo: Getty
The great and the good of the British film industry had gathered at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the centenary of the Film and TV Charity, of which Charles has recently been named patron. The King is a known lover of the arts, and his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, held the position since 1952.
Damien Lewis and Sir Ridley Scott, whose directorial work with Gladiator II is winning critical acclaim, were joined by actors like Joseph Fiennes and Queen Charlotte star India Amarteifio for the occasion. King Charles was also joined at the palace by Prince Edward and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
A plethora of iconic props and costumes from some of the nation’s most iconic films were on show at Buckingham Palace, including a toga-style get-up worn by Joseph Quinn for his role as Emperor Geta in the upcoming Gladiator film, Dame Maggie Smith’s outfit from 1982’s Evil Under The Sun, and the late Bernard Hill’s costume from Titanic.
Queen Camilla talks to Wolf Hall star Damien Lewis, who told King Charles that he had been watching the Queen’s recent documentary. Photo: Getty
Queen Camilla, who is still recovering from a chest infection, made an appearance at the event, enjoying a warm conversation with the actress Emily Mortimer, whose mother is a friend of the Queen’s. “She’s still smoking as much as ever,” said Mortimer of her mother, Penny. “Oh, she’s still on the fags!” laughed the Queen in reply.
It will be a comfort to many that Camilla is in such high spirits. Though she was still suffering from a cough, sipping water throughout the event and confessing to feeling rotten over the past week, the Queen said she was well on the mend. She apologized to Sir Ridley, telling the director that she wouldn’t be able to attend the Gladiator II premiere that evening, as she feared she might be coughing her way through the 150-minute film.
So it was a solo mission for King Charles when he made his entrance amid the movie stars at Leicester Square a few hours later. Not to be outdone by the Hollywood legends, Charles arrived at the red carpet in a Bentley Limousine, wearing a dapper suit and black bow tie. Despite Queen Camilla’s absence, the King was in excellent form at the premier, bantering with stars like Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, and jokingly asking Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington whether he played someone terrible in the film. A likely turn of events, considering Gladiator II’s fight-to-the-death subject matter.
King Charles met actors Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, and Pedro Pascal upon arrival for the Royal film performance and World premiere of Gladiator II later that evening. Photo: Getty
And from the steamy world of Roman amphitheatres to the rather more frigid climes of fridge-freezers. His Royal Highness will be spending his 76th birthday much like he spent his 75th: working to support the Coronation Food Project. King Charles will be celebrating a ‘surplus food festival’, marking the one year anniversary of the charity, which he founded on his birthday. The Coronation Food Project aims to reduce the nation’s food waste by ‘turbocharging’ infrastructure around storing excess meals. Are you not entertained? One thing is certain: King Charles will be.
Originally published in Tatler.com
