When it comes to the royal family, Sir Ian McKellen doesn’t hold back.
The 85-year-old British actor claimed the late Queen Elizabeth II was “quite rude” when they met in 2008.
McKellen recalled the time when he received a medal for his acting performance and reportedly had a heated argument with the monarch.
Ian McKellen hospitalized after falling from stage in London
Ian McKellen criticises the royal family and claims that Queen Elizabeth was “quite rude” to him. (Getty Images)
“On the few occasions I met her, she was quite rude,” he told the Times of London.
“When I received a medal for my acting performance, she said, ‘You’ve been doing this for an awful long time.’ I said, ‘Well, not as long as you.’ I got a royal smile for that, but then she said, ‘Does anyone still go to the theater?'”
He continued: “That’s a damn rude thing to give someone a medal for their acting performance. It meant, ‘Does anyone care about you, because I don’t. Now go away!'”
British actor Ian McKellen criticized several members of the royal family, including King Charles and Queen Elizabeth. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
McKellen demonstrated his awkward handshake with the late Queen during the interview, claiming that she pushed his hand away “with some force” when they met.
“That was her handshake and it meant, ‘Go! Go!'” he explained.
The “X-Men” actor believed that Queen Elizabeth was “pretty crazy” at the end of her life.
He then expressed his opinion on the monarchy.
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Sir Ian McKellen, 85, fell off the stage during a performance of “Player Kings” in London in June. (Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)
“Imagine being born into the royal family. I’ve been in public life a little bit, but these people are in prison. They can’t do anything normal. Can you imagine having to be nice to everyone you talk to?”
“Imagine being born into the royal family. I’ve been involved in public life a little bit, but these people are in prison.”
The media outlet added that the actor appears to be “genuinely concerned” about the mental health of the royal family.
“Hats off to anyone who manages to keep their sanity in this world,” he said. “As the (late) Duke of Edinburgh managed to do, even though he too was deeply eccentric and, I suspect, deeply unhappy. The same goes for the current king. He survives somehow, but he is clearly damaged.”
Although McKellen claimed to be on Prince Harry’s “side” following his falling out with the royal family, the actor argued that the Duke of Sussex is not the brightest. (Getty Images)
Although McKellen claimed to be on Prince Harry’s “side” following his falling out with the royal family, the actor argued that the Duke of Sussex is not the brightest.
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“As for Harry, he’s probably not smart enough or doesn’t have the right friends to really help himself. Mind you, he had his choice of all the beautiful women in the world. I hope he got the right one.”
Representatives for McKellen and Harry did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, while a representative for Charles declined to comment.
His scathing comments came after he was hospitalized and suffered a fall during a performance in London in June.
Ian McKellen shared his opinion on the royal family and explained his unpleasant encounter with the late Queen Elizabeth in 2008. (Getty Images)
McKellen, who was hosting a performance of “Player Kings” at the Noel Coward Theatre, was in the middle of a fight scene when he fell from the stage. The rest of the performance was cancelled and the theatre evacuated.
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Ian McKellen, seen here in a still from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, played Gandalf alongside Elijah Wood’s Frodo. (New Line/WireImage/Getty Images)
The British actor played the role of Gandalf in the film series “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”, is known for his roles in the “X-Men” franchise, the live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” and for his role as high-ranking Sherlock Holmes in “Mr. Holmes”.
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