King Charles has formed close friendships with some of Hollywood's biggest names over the years. Although the idea of sitting down for afternoon tea and a catch-up with King Charles III might sound intimidating to some, a handful of celebrities have grown increasingly close with the British monarch. Over the years, the 77-year-old royal has rubbed shoulders with the biggest names in Hollywood and the music industry. Being the King, celebrity friendships are inevitable, but there may be some that might surprise you. From Sir Rod Stewart to Dame Judi Dench, Express.co.uk has taken a deep dive into King Charles' celebrity contacts.
Sir Rod Stewart
Maggie May hitmaker Sir Rod Stewart has been close pals with the King for many years. The 78-year-old rocker was the ambassador for The Prince's Trust, and in 2008, he performed at the King's 60th birthday party. In 2016, the musician was knighted by the King at Buckingham Palace and led a singalong of the Neil Diamond hit single Sweet Caroline at the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee concert. Speaking after her death, Sir Rod showed his support for Charles taking the throne at the age of 73. He gushed: "He's had a long apprenticeship, and I don't think William should take over just yet. I want Charles to enjoy this. This is what he's lived for, this is what he's trained for and he's going to be very good at it." Sir Rod also jokes that his wife has a crush on the King after admitting that the late Queen felt like a "sister" and had "always been in the background" of his life. He told Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast: "I love him, and my wife absolutely adores him. I think they've got a thing going on!"
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes has a rolodex of anecdotes when it comes to meeting famous faces, so it's no surprise that she's friendly with the Royal Family too. The Harry Potter favourite, 81, previously said she feels "protective" of the monarch. She recalled in her memoir, This Much Is True: "We have met a handful of times over the years, but I was amazed when Lindy, my agent, rang me to say, 'Prince Charles has invited you to go and spend three nights in a house party in Sandringham'." Other stars who were invited to the lavish event included Stephen Fry and David Hockney, and the group were entertained by the King performing a monologue penned by Barry Humphries. She wrote: "The Prince is a fine actor, he had a superb Aussie accent, and he made us all laugh." During her stay, she swam with the now-Queen Consort Camilla, hailing her and the then-Prince "cracking good hosts". Margolyes added: "I think he's a good man who cares a great deal for the country, and I can't bear the horrid things people write about him and the other members of the Royal Family."
Dame Judi Dench
The 88-year-old actress backed the Countryfile Plant Britain campaign with Charles back in 2020, but this wasn't her first meeting with the royal. The pair have rubbed shoulders on several occasions, and even share a little-known hobby together. She previously told Country Life: "What struck me when we met was his passion for painting, his love of walking, for trees, the countryside and Cornwall - everything I also feel so deeply about." The Dame also jumped to the Royal Family's defence against the Netflix series, The Crown. In an open letter for The Times, the Academy Award winner said she believes it should be highlighted to fans that the series is a "fictionalised drama", claiming that including certain scenes is "crude sensationalism." Scenes she was referring to included those in series five that she said portrayed "King Charles plotting for his mother to abdicate" and show him "Suggesting his mother's parenting was so deficient that she might have deserved a jail sentence." After Dame Judi's letter sparked outrage online, Netflix added a disclaimer to their episodes.
Stella McCartney
Fashion designer Stella McCartney, 51, became friendly with the monarch long before he ascended the throne. In recent years, following her commitment to sustainability with her brand and the King's passion for environmentalism, she joined him for the launch of Terra Carta Transition Coalitions, "an organised, global collective working together to drive investment towards a sustainable future". Stella, who received a CBE in 2023, also gave him a tour of a fashion installation she made for the COP26 summit. After Queen Elizabeth II's death, the King had an amusing encounter with Sir Paul McCartney's daughter. Appearing confused over traditional royal greetings, he greeted her warmly with kisses after she said: "I don't know what to do anymore!" Earning a chuckle from the King, she curtseyed and said, "I think I'm supposed to do this".
