Actor Paul Mescal was absent from Queen Camilla’s special screening of Hamnet on Tuesday evening, after he famously referred to meeting members of the Royal Family as “not on the list of priorities”.
The Queen instead rubbed shoulders with other Hollywood talent at the screening of the critically acclaimed adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, Hamnet.
The event, held at the May Fair Hotel in central London, was organised by The Queen’s Reading Room, the literary charity Her Majesty founded during the pandemic, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year.
The film stars Mr Mescal as William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as his wife Agnes, exploring the devastating grief the couple experienced following the death of their 11-year-old son Hamnet.
Queen Camilla hosts Hamnet screening but Paul Mescal absent
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Mr Mescal, who was vocal after the 2024 global premiere of Gladiator II about how meeting King Charles was “definitely not something that [he] thought was in the bingo cards,” was not present at Tuesday’s event.
At the time, he explained: “I’m Irish, so it’s not kind of on the list of priorities,” in reference to meeting members of the Royal Family.
Just hours before the screening, the film had secured 11 Bafta nominations, making it a particularly celebratory occasion.
The 78-year-old greeted actor Joe Alwyn, who portrays Bartholomew in the production, along with Ms O’Farrell herself and 12-year-old Jacobi Jupe, who takes on the titular role of Shakespeare’s ill-fated son.
Queen Camilla posing with Joe Alwyn and others involved in Hamnet
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Dressed elegantly in a black gown adorned with floral appliques, the Queen revealed she had arrived prepared for an emotional viewing.
“I’m very proud to be here tonight and watching this wonderful film, which we put on the Reading Room – one of the first books I put on – so I’m looking forward to seeing it on the screen,” she remarked upon arrival.
Speaking to one of the producers, Camilla confessed she had come “armed with handkerchiefs” after hearing glowing reviews of the picture.
Her daughter, Laura Lopes, had already seen the film, with the Queen noting she had been “sobbing” throughout.
Paul Mescal and King Charles at the Gladiator II premiere
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Camilla told the assembled cast and crew she was “thrilled” to finally watch the adaptation, observing to Mr Alwyn that the film had “taken off” since its cinema release earlier this month.
Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao helms the project, marking her first feature since Marvel’s Eternals, with the screenplay co-written by O’Farrell herself.
The production’s 11 Bafta nominations include best film, outstanding British film and best director for Zhao, setting a new record for the most nominations ever received by a female-directed picture.
Before the screening commenced, the Queen was given a personal tour of the costumes on display by designer Malgosia Turzanska, and also met producers Dame Pippa Harris and Liza Marshall alongside casting director Nina Gold.
Joe Alwyn and Queen Camilla shaking hands at the event
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PA
The screening capped a demanding day for the Queen, who had earlier joined King Charles at Windsor Castle for a reception marking Holocaust Memorial Day.
During the gathering, the royal couple viewed portraits of seven Holocaust survivors who had received honours for their contributions to awareness and education, works commissioned by the King when he was Prince of Wales and now displayed in Buckingham Palace’s East Wing.
Their Majesties met with representatives from organisations dedicated to teaching future generations about the Holocaust, including the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Anne Frank Trust UK and The Holocaust Educational Trust.
The Queen also viewed a portrait of Anne Frank by artist Peter Sacks, created for the Anne Frank Trust UK.
The King and Queen concluded the reception by lighting candles as a gesture of remembrance and hope.
