King Charles pays tribute to 'national treasure' Maggie Smith in heartbreaking message
King Charles and Queen Camilla have paid a heartwarming tribute to Dame Maggie Smith who died in hospital at the age of 89 earlier today.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have shared a heartwarming tribute following the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
The King said in a statement: " 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 also shared a lovely photograph of them together taken at London's Grosvenor House in 2016, where she introduced the then-Prince to the stage at the Pride of Britain awards.
Actor Dame Maggie Smith was best known for her roles in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey. She won two Oscars during her career - for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 and California Suite in 1979.
Her family said she sadly passed away at the age of 89 on September 27. The family statement read: "It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
"She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother."
The family statement continued: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
"We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time."
Smith spent seven decades delighting audiences of all ages with starring roles on TV, films, and countless stage productions.
In 1990 she was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II for her "contribution to the arts," with the monarch bestowing her with the title of Dame.
She was also made a Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour for her services to drama in the late Queen's birthday honours in 2014. The title is given to men and women for recognised services of national importance.
Don't miss...
Vote whether Harry should ask Charles for permission before going on TV [VOTE]
Harry sent message with William's Prince George photo and he took it to heart [LATEST]
Meghan Markle's 'death stare' to mum Doria Ragland caught on camera [REPORT]
Dame Maggie, was part of a generation of female performers that also included Dame Judi Dench. Dame Maggie studied at Oxford High School for Girls and later at the Oxford Playhouse School and started her career by initially being given several supporting roles early on.
In recent years, she was introduced to a whole new generation of fans when she played Professor McGonagall at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films and Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey.
Dame Maggie married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967 and they had two sons together before divorcing in 1975. The same year she married the writer Beverley Cross, who died in 1998.
Dame Maggie Smith is survived by her two sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens who are both actors, and five grandchildren.
