Back in 2006, Dame Helen Mirren wowed audiences with her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Queen — such an impressive performance that Prince Harry called her “granny” the first time they met, and the actress wasn’t very happy about it.

The 73-year-old appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, January 31, to discuss the 2019 Prince’s Trust Mentor of the Year award. During the chat, the actress was asked if Prince Charles ever brought up the fact she played his mother, 92. “No that’s never mentioned … he’s too tactful,” the Oscar winner said. “Harry and [Prince] William have mentioned it to me and they have been very funny and very cool about it.”

Helen Mirren The Queen
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She then revealed, “I think Harry once at an awards ceremony said, ‘And granny is here’ and I was rather insulted by that. I mean, really!” Awkward. The Gosford Park costar also commented on Meghan Markle during the interview, and praised her for how she is handling her major changed of life.

“I think right from the moment that relationship was revealed she conducted herself with incredible self-restraint, elegance, discipline and simplicity and humanity,” Helen said. “I was an admirer …  it’s an incredibly difficult life to lead, talk about pressure. I think she is doing it with great elegance.”

And the actual Queen is clearly doing her best to help her grandson, 34, and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, 37. Not only has she given the pair Frogmore Cottage, she has apparently offered them some art pieces as well. “Meghan and Harry have been told they can choose some artwork for [their home],” a source recently told Vanity Fair. “They have been presented with a list of paintings that would be available to them and they are making up their minds as to what they would like to hang in their new home.”

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