Veteran actor Ian McKellen, known for his stellar performances over the years, recently recalled an awkward conversation he had with the late Queen Elizabeth II, in which he claimed the Queen was rude to him.

Speaking to Times London, the actor said, “She (the Queen) was quite rude whenever I met her. When I got a medal for acting, she said, ‘You’ve been doing this job for a very long time.’ I said, ‘Well, not as long as you.’ I got a royal smile at that, but then she said, ‘Does anyone actually still go to the theatre?’ It’s very rude when you’re giving someone a medal for acting.”

During the same interview, McKellen called King Charles ‘damaged’ and said Prince Harry “is probably not as intelligent or doesn’t have the right friends to help himself. Mind you, he had the option of choosing from all the beautiful women in the world. I hope he found the right woman.” Prince Harry is married to former actress Meghan Markle.

The actor also commented on the royal life and the way they live, saying, “Imagine being born into a royal family. I have been in public life for a while, but these people are in jail. They can’t do anything normal. Can you imagine being nice to anyone you talk to?”

The actor said, “Any person in that world who manages to keep himself healthy, I salute him.”