Prince William has been reported to have made a cheeky joke about a former monarch to a TV star at Windsor Castle. According to GB News, the Prince of Wales formally made Anne-Marie Duff an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama during a ceremony at the castle.
The actress, known for her role as Fiona Gallagher in Channel 4’s Shameless and her Bafta-winning performance in Bad Sisters, shared a lighthearted moment with Prince William during the investiture. GB News reported that the Prince joked about her previous portrayal of Elizabeth I in the BBC’s The Virgin Queen, saying “this should all be old hat for you, or something”, as quoted by Duff.
The ceremony took place at Windsor Castle, a royal residence that Duff described as “like a treasure chest” where “every piece of every room is swollen with history and art and value”. She expressed her amazement that the castle remains a functioning home, noting: “This is someone’s home, which is just extraordinary to me.” GB News also reported that Duff and Prince William discussed parenting, with the actor revealing they talked about balancing work and family life and “how we’re all kind of the same”.
Duff also shared her preference for theatre work during her conversation with the Prince, explaining that a play would be the “juiciest” next project for her. She values the “communion with people” that stage work provides, along with its immediacy and “being in charge of the chronology”. As GB News reported, she added: “If a light bulb blows, we still go on. It’s all of that and the jeopardy of it – when things go wrong, you become so resourceful and having each other’s back as a company.”
The actor’s next confirmed role isn’t until 2026, though she hinted at potential projects she cannot discuss due to strict non-disclosure agreements. Reflecting on receiving the OBE honour, Duff expressed genuine surprise and gratitude about the recognition. As quoted by GB News, she said: “Fabulous, really lucky. You never imagine that – I think especially for people who work in the arts – you never really have a sense of what you do as having a great deal of importance or being a contribution to anything.”
The honour was formally presented to Duff by Prince William at Windsor Castle, with GB News providing coverage of the event. The ceremony highlighted the recognition of Duff’s contributions to drama, with the actor acknowledging that such formal acknowledgement feels extraordinary for arts practitioners. As reported by GB News, she said: “You’re just so busy working away. It feels extraordinary to be recognised.”
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