Today marks the 25th anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales’ death. The 2006 film The Queen, starring Dame Helen Mirren in the titular role, depicts the aftermath of this tragedy and the subsequent plummet in popularity the British Monarchy faced.
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Why would Harry call Dame Helen Mirren ‘granny’?
The award-winning actress starred as Her Majesty. Peter Morgan, the screenwriter, also wrote the hit Netflix show The Crown, which depicts Queen Elizabeth’s reign.
Dame Helen Mirren confessed to TheHollywood Reporter that she was rather nervous taking on this role, as no one had ever played Queen Elizabeth II before.
She said:
I didn’t know—no one knew—how the public would receive it, let alone the establishment in Britain
She told the Radio Times that she wrote to the Queen in relation to the film, because ‘in my research I found myself with a growing respect for her’.
She says the Queen, of course, didn’t reply but she believes that the Monarch has seen the film and that it was well received.
Many royal encounters
Dame Helen Mirren has met many Royal family members over the years.
The Mirror reports the actress met the Queen in a crowded room but was then ‘escorted’ to a more private room. There, she had tea with the Queenand the late Prince Philip.
Dame Helen Mirren has also worked closely with Prince Charlesin relation to the Prince’s Trust, an organization with the aim of helping disadvantaged young people in the UK.
In 2019, while promoting the launch of the Prince’s Trust Mentor of the Year Award on Good Morning Britain, Helen Mirren Prince William and Prince Harry had talked about her role in The Queen.
She went on to explain that at an award ceremony, Prince Harry had said ‘And Granny is here’. A comment which she felt was insulting, although Dame Helen Mirren said this laughingly. She said:
I was at an awards ceremony and Harry said, 'And granny is here' and I was rather insulted by that. I mean, really.
Not a devoted royalist
In 2019, Helen Mirren admitted to Live About that she used to believe the Monarchy was ‘completely useless'.
However, her opinion has mellowed. Express.co.uk reports that playing Her Majesty changed Helen Mirren’s opinion of the establishment.
Read more:
⋙ Prince Harry’s security row to make visit to the Queen challenging
⋙ Prince Charles and Camilla's 'secret son' claims Netflix wants to do a documentary on his life
⋙ The Queen: Monarch rests more as her condition is not ‘ideal’
