The costume designer behind the critically acclaimed film Hamnet has described living a "dream" life after meeting Queen Camilla just hours following her BAFTA shortlisting. Malgosia Turzanska, who received both Oscar and BAFTA nominations for her work on the period drama, shared this extraordinary moment during a special screening event in London's Mayfair district.
A Royal Encounter Amid Award Success
Queen Camilla met the cast and creative team behind Hamnet on Tuesday evening ahead of a private screening organised by The Queen's Reading Room charity. The monarch viewed a display of handcrafted costumes created for the film and received a personal guide from Turzanska through the intricate garments that helped bring Shakespeare's family to life on screen.
"It was the most fun I have had on set," Turzanska told the Queen during their conversation about the costume details. The designer revealed she was still processing an "unbelievable" sequence of events that began with Oscar nominations last week, continued with BAFTA recognition on Tuesday, and culminated in her royal meeting hours later.
Record-Breaking Film Adaptation
Hamnet, the big-screen adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel about Shakespeare's family life, has made cinematic history. Directed by Chloe Zhao, the film broke records on Tuesday by achieving the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history with an impressive 11 nods.
The event brought together numerous key figures from the production, including actors Joe Alwyn, child stars Jacobi Jupe and Olivia Lynes, author Maggie O'Farrell, producers Dame Pippa Harris and Liza Marshall, and casting director Nina Gold. Queen Camilla personally greeted each attendee before the screening commenced.
Emotional Reunion With Creative Work
Turzanska described the emotional experience of unpacking the costumes for the exhibition, comparing it to "touching old friends." She told the Press Association: "I get very emotional and this was one of those times. To see the costumes again was incredibly moving."
The designer elaborated on her remarkable week: "It was the Oscar nominations a couple of days ago and then this, and I still have not come down from this cloud. This has been unbelievable. I met up with some of the crew to celebrate the Oscars and now we have this wonderful royal event."
Royal Endorsement For Literary Adaptation
Queen Camilla revealed during the event that Hamnet was among the first books selected for her Reading Room initiative, a charity launched to champion literature's transformative power. "I am very proud to be here tonight and watching this wonderful film," the monarch told assembled guests.
The original novel, published in 2020, presents a fictional account of playwright William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes's lives, winning several literary awards before its cinematic adaptation. The film continues this success story through its award nominations and royal recognition.
Turzanska reflected on the complete experience: "And now I get to see Joe, Olivia, Maggie and everyone – it has all been just so amazing." Her comments underscore the extraordinary convergence of artistic achievement and royal recognition that has characterised this remarkable week for the Hamnet creative team.
