King Charles pays tribute to Dame Maggie Smith

It was announced on Friday, 27 September that actor Dame Maggie Smith passed away at the age of 89. The King has shared a message celebrating her life and career. 

Soon after Dame Maggie’s two sons shared the news of her death, King Charles issued a statement saying ”My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Maggie Smith. As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage. Charles R”

In 1969, Dame Maggie was made a Commander of the British Empire, and then in 1990 she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire. In 2014, she was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour, an order established by King George V in 1917 to award exceptional achievement. 

Dame Maggie Smith’s career crossed the stage, television, and film. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1969 for her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and in 1978 for Best Supporting Actress in California Suite. 

More recently, Dame Maggie Smith became beloved with younger generations for her roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in the Downton Abbey television series and films.