Ian McKellen claims Queen Elizabeth was ‘quite rude’ while awarding him a medal for acting

LONDON, ENGLAND: British actor Sir Ian McKellen admitted in a recent interview that he is not the biggest fan of the monarchy or the royal family in general.

McKellan, 85, stated in a recent interview with the Times of London, that Queen Elizabeth II treated him in a "quite rude" manner during their multiple interactions, including when the monarch gave him a medal in 2008.

Ian McKellen says late Queen Elizabeth II was 'quite rude' toward him

Ian McKellen, 85, believed Queen Elizabeth II was "quite mad at the end" and claimed the monarch had spoken to him in an impolite manner when presenting him with an acting award in 2008.

Speaking with The Times in an interview released on Friday, September 6, McKellen revealed that "on the few occasions I met her she was quite rude".

Without holding back, McKellen said, "When I received a medal for acting, she said, ‘You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time.’ I said, ‘Well, not as long as you.’"

McKellen added, "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**k about you because I don’t. Now off you go!’"

The Times noted that McKellen reenacted his interaction with the late monarch, appearing to shake the interviewer's hand before abruptly pushing him away with "some force," per the New York Post.

He joked, "That was her handshake and it meant, ‘Go! Go!’" Furthermore, McKellen maintained that the queen was "quite mad" in her final days.

"The Queen, I'm sure she was quite mad at the end," the 'Lord of the Rings' star claimed of the late queen, who died in 2022 at the age of 96.

McKellen added that Prince Philip, the queen's late husband, was one of the few royals who remained grounded. Prince Philip died in 2021 at the age of 99.

"Hats off to anyone who manages to stay sane in that world. Like the Duke of Edinburgh [Prince Philip] managed to do, although even he was deeply, deeply eccentric and I suspect, deeply unhappy," he said.

What did Ian McKellen said about King Charles III and other royal family members?

Along with discussing other royal family members, such as King Charles III, Ian McKellen declared that the current monarch is "most definitely on Harry’s side" in light of the Duke of Sussex’s tense relationship with his father and brother, Prince William.

Sir McKellen said, "Imagine being born into the royal family. I’ve been in public life a 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?"

"Same with the present king. He sort of survives, but he is clearly damaged," he added.

McKellen went on, "As for Harry, he’s probably not bright enough or doesn’t have the right friends to really help himself. Mind you, he had the pick of all the pretty women in the world. I hope he’s got the right one."

Prince Harry, 39, moved to Montecito, California, away from the royal family, with his wife, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Princess Lilibet, 3, and Archie, 5, in 2023.

Having portrayed a number of real-life and fictitious monarchs during his career, such as 'King Richard III' and Shakespeare's 'King Lear,' McKellen is no stranger to monarchy.

The English actor's most recent interview was conducted a month after he revealed that in June he had fallen off the stage during a West End performance, and that  his "fat suit" protected him.

"I was wearing a fat suit for Falstaff and that saved my ribs and other joints. So I’ve had a lucky escape really," he explained to Saga Magazine at the time.

McKellen was playing John Falstaff in 'Player Kings', a version of Shakespeare’s 'Henry IV' Parts I and II. 

Following the mishap, McKellen was admitted to the hospital for three days and had to leave the show early. He has been wearing a neck brace while he recovers.

The 'Mr Holmes' star also stated that his understudy David Semark has been portraying his role ever since.