Actor Sir Ian McKellen has sparked controversy after referring to the late Queen Elizabeth II as “quite mad” and “rude” during an interview with The Times. The 85-year-old actor recalled his interactions with the Queen, specifically mentioning her comment during a 2008 ceremony when he was awarded the Companion of Honour for his contributions to acting. McKellen recounted that the Queen remarked, “You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time,” to which he humorously responded, “Well, not as long as you.” He received a royal smile but was taken aback when she then asked, “Does anyone still actually go to the theatre?” McKellen felt this was dismissive, particularly in the context of receiving an award for his acting career, saying, “It meant, ‘Does anyone care a f*** about you because I don’t.’”
McKellen’s comments have ignited backlash from royal supporters and commentators, who have called his remarks disrespectful. Royal biographer Margaret Holder suggested McKellen might want to consider returning his knighthood if he felt so slighted by the Queen. McKellen was knighted in 1991 for his services to the performing arts and later appointed as a Companion of Honour in 2008, also by Queen Elizabeth II.
McKellen further elaborated on his encounters with the Queen, reenacting how her handshake felt dismissive, describing it as a forceful gesture meant to signal someone to leave. He illustrated this by pushing away the interviewer’s hand during the roleplay, stating that the Queen’s handshake communicated, “Go! Go!”
The X-Men star also voiced support for Prince Harry during the interview, expressing empathy for his challenges within the royal family. McKellen remarked that members of the royal family live a restricted life, describing it as being in “prison” due to the constant public scrutiny and the need to always be polite to everyone. He defended Harry, saying, “I’m most definitely on Harry’s side,” while also commenting on Harry’s relationships, suggesting he had “the pick of all the pretty women in the world.”
McKellen’s remarks about the Queen have been met with criticism from figures like Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former spokesman, who called McKellen’s comments “churlish” and dismissed the notion that the Queen’s remark about the theatre was intentionally rude. The controversy continues as McKellen’s statements divide public opinion.
