This is the moment Miriam Margolyes told Queen Camilla that King Charles should ‘take no notice of anyone who criticises him, because he’s just wonderful’.
The actress asked Camilla to pass on a message to her husband as they spoke during an event in London yesterday for the Women of the World (WOW) organisation.
Greeting Camilla with kisses during a line-up of prominent guests at the St James’s Palace reception, Margolyes told her: ‘Hello darling, how are you?
‘Will you tell His Majesty that we love him and we want him to get better and to take no notice of anyone who criticises him, because he’s just wonderful?’
The Queen laughed and tapped her on the shoulder, saying: ‘I will bear that in mind.’ Margolyes replied ‘thank you’, before Camilla spoke to the next guest, Cherie Blair.
It comes after Charles last month vowed the Royal Family would ‘continue in our duty and service to you all’ in the wake of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest.
The King previously insisted the ‘law must take its course’ as he expressed his ‘deep concern’ over allegations of misconduct in public office against his younger brother.
He stripped Andrew of his right to be a prince and his Duke of York title last October amid the ongoing scandal surrounding Andrew’s links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Queen Camilla speaks with Miriam Margolyes during a St James’s Palace reception yesterday
Camilla and Margolyes speak at St James’s Palace yesterday as Cherie Blair watches on
Margolyes during the reception at St James’s Palace to mark International Women’s Day
The King has also faced a serious health battle after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024, although his weekly schedule of treatment has been reduced this year.
During a speech at yesterday’s event, Camilla said she stands in ‘solidarity, sorrow and sympathy’ with women who have survived abuse and sexual violence.
The Queen also criticised toxic online topics, urging for ‘misogyny and hatred’ influencing boys and young men to be ‘confronted’ in a bid to head off future issues.
And she said schoolboys should be taught to manage and express their feelings and all children should have lessons on ‘what constitutes consent – and what is assault’.
The Queen’s address was her most significant speech to date on the issue of violence against women and girls, and follows more than 15 years of supporting survivors, charities and other organisations working in the area.
Camilla told her guests: ‘To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone.
‘We stand with you and alongside you, today and every day, in solidarity, sorrow and sympathy. Every woman has a story. And these stories must be told. Because when we live in a culture of silence, we empower violence against women and girls.’
The Royal Family has been dealing with the issue of Andrew for years, left disgraced by his association with Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Andrew was accused of having sex with Epstein victim Virginia Guiffre three times, including when she was 17, and also during an orgy after being trafficked by the financier. Andrew has previously denied the allegations.
The Queen’s speech to mark International Women’s Day and her 16-year association with WOW, 11 as president, is likely to be seen as thinly veiled reference to Andrew.
Queen Camilla, president of Women of the World, speaks during a St James’s Palace reception
Dame Helen Mirren was also among the guests invited to St James’s Palace yesterday
Camilla’s address was her most significant speech to date on violence against women and girls
Actress Hannah Waddingham during a reception at St James’s Palace in London yesterday
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘I think Her Majesty’s speech speaks for itself.’
Camilla delivered her speech to a group of invited leading women: from Dame Helen Mirren and Penny Lancaster, Lady Stewart, to Baroness Floella Benjamin and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
She also told the audience: ‘It is in the online space where boys and young men absorb many of the values they will carry through until adulthood: if misogyny and hatred are not confronted here and now, then we will face far greater issues in the future.’
Camilla also said men and boys were not the ‘enemy of progress’, but were ‘essential partners’, and the ‘benefits will be felt by girls, by women, by communities and by society itself’.
Also among the guests was Amy Hunt whose sisters Louise and Hannah Hunt, and their mother Carol Hunt, were killed by Kyle Clifford, 27 – Louise’s ex-partner – in 2024.
The Queen said: ‘In the playground, boys should be taught to manage and to express their feelings healthily. In the classroom, all children must learn what constitutes consent – and what is assault.
‘In the work place, inspiring male and female role models can demonstrate true egalitarianism. In our social lives, emotional honesty should be seen as strength, rather than weakness.
‘After all, we cannot claim that we believe in gender equality if we also believe that “real men don’t cry”. And we cannot be surprised by physical cruelty if, in digital forums, we turn a blind eye to those who heap abuse on others without thought or consequence.’
During the reception, Dame Helen joked about the conversation she had with her driver when he she told him she was on her way to an event celebrating International Women’s Day.
The actress said with a laugh: ‘He said, ‘when’s men’s international day, then?’ and I said, ‘every f***ing day, 365 days of them’. So yes, we do need an International Women’s Day.’
