Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has opened up on King Charles’ cancer battle as she praised the future monarch for his ‘extraordinary’ legacy.
09:59, 22 Jul 2025Updated 10:01, 22 Jul 2025
King Charles has been accused of “bullying behaviour” towards royal staff(Image: Chris J Ratcliffe – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
King Charles has been praised as “exceptionally brave” amid his health battles, after his cancer diagnosis in February last year. Dame Joanna Lumley has gave an insight on the monarch, who she described as being “really ill” in a new interview.
The Absolutely Fabulous icon, 79, who is known for being a passionate royalist, heaped praise on Charles. Dame Joanna was honoured with her damehood three years ago by Princess Anne, for her services to drama, entertainment, and charity.
Speaking to Saga Magazine, she revealed: “He’s exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him. He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I’ve ever met – he’s incredible.”
However Joanna’s admiration for the King dates back many years, as she expressed Charles already had made his mark and a lasting legacy long before he took the crown, according to reports in the Mirror.
She stated: “He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see, without being cruel to Prince William, because he had the role for so long. The Prince’s Trust was set up when he was in his twenties – what a far-thinking thing to do!”
Joanna Lumley heaped praised on King Charles as she gave an insight into his health (Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
After meeting both Charles and Queen Camilla in person previously, Joanna described the monarch as a “golden, fabulous person”.
The actress claimed she believed that the media had championed Diana during the royal pair’s marriage troubles, observing that “so much mud was flung” at Camilla Parker Bowles, who has now became Queen.
She added: “But now she goes about her job without any rancour.” Joanna was awarded an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List before claiming her Dame title 27 years later.
Dame Joanna expressed that finding out the news through a letter left her in tears, as she reflected on the overwhelming moment she will never forget.
The 2022 honours marked the last New Year’s awards handed out by the late Queen Elizabeth II before her sad passing nine months later, following her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Giving insight into the late Queen, she commented: “She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died.”
Joanna published her book A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II back in 2021. She told Jonathan Ross that it included stories from people who had met her throughout her reign, from figures like Winston Churchill to children who gave her flowers on the street.
One story came from rock star Rob Halford from Judas Priest, with Joanna revealing: “He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say ‘heavy metal.’ He said ‘I never believed I’d hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'”.
Meanwhile, Joanna has also been in the spotlight recently after expressing support for assisted dying, stating she wouldn’t want to continue living if left unable to speak or recognise her loved ones.
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