Helen Mirren Recounts Royal Tea Mishap and Queen's Hilarious Introduction
The Oscar-winning actress shared anecdotes about her encounter with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, including a moment of social awkwardness.
Dame Helen Mirren has shared amusing anecdotes from a 2018 tea with Queen Elizabeth II, recounting a moment where the late monarch introduced her to a sheikh, only for him to be unaware of Mirren's famous portrayal of the Queen in the 2006 film "The Queen." The encounter occurred while Mirren was attending Ascot.
"She introduced me to the Sheikh of somewhere, as saying 'this is Dame Helen Mirren, she played me you know, in the film,'" Mirren recalled on the TODAY show. "And the Sheikh, the Sheikh looked completely like he had no idea, didn't know about the film, no idea who I was, he looked completely confused."
Mirren, who won an Academy Award for her performance as Queen Elizabeth II, noted that she had never publicly discussed playing the monarch before the introduction.
During the same tea, Mirren also experienced a moment of hesitation when trying to request milk for her tea from Prince Philip. Unsure of the correct form of address, she struggled to ask him to pass the milk jug.
"I'm thinking 'how do I get the milk?' And I just could not remember how to address Prince Philip? Do I call him sir, is it your majesty, your royal highness?" Mirren explained. "I thought maybe I should ask for a serving person? In the end I just gave up and had it without milk because I couldn't deal with the situation."
Mirren previously paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her passing in 2022, speaking at the 2023 Bafta Film Awards. She remembered the Queen as the nation's "leading star," highlighting her "longstanding" relationship with BAFTA and her "loyal support" which contributed to the organization's standing.
"In 1953, her coronation broadcast had the world watching. From that time, she was unquestionably the nation's leading lady but as mysterious as a silent film star," Mirren stated during her tribute. "Who else could meet the world's most famous singers, actors and performers and turn them into her supporting cast."
She also acknowledged the Queen's patronage of over 50 cultural organizations and her receipt of an honorary BAFTA in 2013 for her contributions to the film and television industries. Mirren concluded her tribute by saying, "Your Majesty, you are our nation's leading star. On behalf of Bafta, thank you for all that you have done for our film and television industry."