Prince William made a cheeky joke about a former monarch to a TV star at Windsor Castle today.
Shameless star Anne-Marie Duff was formally made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old actor, who played Fiona Gallagher in Channel 4's Shameless and won a Bafta for her role in Bad Sisters, shared a light moment with William during the ceremony.
The Prince joked about her previous portrayal of Elizabeth I in the BBC's The Virgin Queen, saying "this should all be old hat for you, or something", Duff said after the investiture.
Prince William makes cheeky joke about a former monarch at Windsor Castle.
PA
The north London resident, who has a son with her former husband and Shameless co-star James McAvoy, discussed parenting with William during their meeting.
She revealed they talked about balancing work and family life and "how we're all kind of the same".
Duff was struck by the castle's unique atmosphere, describing it as "like a treasure chest" where "every piece of every room is swollen with history and art and value".
She found it extraordinary that the royal residence remains a functioning home, noting: "This is someone's home, which is just extraordinary to me."
Anne-Marie Duff played Queen Elizabeth I in a TV programme.
PA
The actor expressed her strong preference for theatre work during her conversation with the Prince, explaining that a play would be the "juiciest" next project for her.
She values the "communion with people" that stage work provides, along with its immediacy and "being in charge of the chronology".
"If a light bulb blows, we still go on. It's all of that and the jeopardy of it – when things go wrong, you become so resourceful and having each other's back as a company," she added.
Duff's next confirmed role isn't until 2026, though she hinted at potential projects she cannot discuss due to strict non-disclosure agreements.
Anne-Marie Duff beamed as she was made an OBE today.
PA
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Anne-Marie Duff was struck by Windsor Castle's unique atmosphere.
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Reflecting on receiving the honour, Duff expressed genuine surprise and gratitude about the recognition.
"Fabulous, really lucky. You never imagine that – I think especially for people who work in the arts – you never really have a sense of what you do as having a great deal of importance or being a contribution to anything," she said.
The actor acknowledged that those in her profession often focus on their craft without considering its broader impact.
"You're just so busy working away. It feels extraordinary to be recognised," she said, highlighting how unexpected such formal acknowledgement feels for arts practitioners.
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