Emotional King Charles admits being reduced to tears by Queen Camilla’s latest move

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for a host of famous faces working in TV and film – and he made an emotional confession by chatting to a pair of TV producers

King Charles said he was “moved to tears” by the Queen Camilla’s landmark documentary on domestic abuse, as he hosted a glittering reception to celebrate the centenary of the Film and TV Charity at Buckingham Palace.

Meeting Damian Lewis, the British actor told him he watched his wife’s recent ITV documentary on the source of domestic abuse and how moved he had been by it. “It’s very moving, isn’t it?” Charles said. “I think BAFTA are interest in it.” Chatting to two of the makers of the Queen’s programme, Kerene Barefield and Naveed Chowdhary-Flatt from Love Monday Productions, Charles said “I was moved to tears” when he watched a preview of it in Scotland. He added: “I really am very proud.”

Later the King joked with Lewis, who is currently starring as Henry VIII in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light, after the actor cheekily told him: “At least you can claim not to be related to him!” “You are fantastic in it,” said the King, who is understood to have watched the series with his wife.

Meanwhile Camilla chatted animatedly with actress Emily Mortimer about her mother Penelope, whom she knows personally. “Penny sends her love,” Mortimer told her. When Her Majesty enquired about how she was, the actress laughed and said: “Oh, she’s still smoking as much as ever.”

“Oh she’s still on the fags!” laughed the Queen. “Yes she’s still on the fags!” giggled Mortimer. Speaking to legendary director Sir Ridley Scott about his new blockbuster film Gladiator II, Camilla gave her apologies for not attending the premiere in London yesterday evening due to her recovery from a chest infection.

She said: “I am so sorry I’m not coming tonight. I’d be coughing throughout it.” The director clasped his hands and told her not to worry at all. The Queen said she had felt “absolutely rotten” last week but was definitely “on the mend”.

Other talent in the line up in the Music Room at the palace included British actor Henry Golding – who told the King how nice it was to be “back on British soil” after after living in LA for 17 years – Emily in Paris star Lucian Laviscount, Mo Gilligan, Claudia Winkleman, India Amarteifio, who played young Queen Charlotte in the Bridgestone spin off, and director Gurinder Chadha. Other royals present included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The King is Patron of the Film and TV Charity, succeeding Queen Elizabeth II, who had held the patronage since 1952. Founded in 1924, to help people working in the screen industries to overcome a spectrum of personal and professional challenges, today it continues to offer counselling and support with mental health, legal, and financial advice.

Celebrating those who work within the television and film industry in the UK, their Majesties met guests including directors, actors, TV presenters, stunt performers and costume designers. And there was even an opportunity to view a number of costumes and items from films including Titanic (1997), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), and the late Dame

Maggie Smith’s costume from Evil Under The Sun (1982), as well as hear music from TV shows, film scores, and musicals, performed by The Countess of Wessex String Orchestra. Sir Lenny Henry also discussed Camilla’s chest infection and recommended “going to Nando’s” to kick it. “I think you would love it!” he said. “But if we go you have to have the extra hot sauce. That would get it out of your system!”

He also offered the King tickets to his new production, Every Brilliant Thing, and told him that if he was interested “I know a guy who can get you in!” Chatting to Joseph Fiennes, who also wished him happy birthday, Charles told him: “I keep missing you in films nowadays.”

“Well we are into television, which is the height of films right now, now the streamers have come in. So I have been hoodwinked into that side of things,” the actor said. “What should I watch?” asked the monarch. “Box sets,” he was told. “The trouble is there are some good ones and some not so good ones,” said the King. Lewis also told the King that he was “looking well”. “Well I try!” chuckled Charles cheerfully.

CEO of the Film and TV Charity, Marcus Ryder, said: “In a film you don’t even see the tip of the iceberg. You see the snow that covers the tip of the iceberg. And we have to realise we have to support all the people who make the magic. It’s incumbent on us to celebrate and support them. Many of the industry are freelance with little job security. They deserve our support.”

Presenter Zara McDermott said: “It’s absolutely incredible. I definitely feel slightly imposter syndrome being here. It doesn’t quite feel real. There are so many incredible people that don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Someone like me has 10, 15 people behind them when I make a programme. They are the heroes of it all.”