Sir Kenneth Branagh revealed Prince Charles spoke about the ‘isolation’ and ‘burden of expectation’ he feels as the heir to the throne when the pair held a private meeting in the late 1980s.
The actor, 61, told the Awards Chatter podcast that he arranged to speak to Charles as he prepared to take on the role of Shakespeare’s Henry V in a 1989 film, which he also directed.
He said Prince Charles acknowledged he was privileged in his position and as a result worked even harder to connect with people, and give back to the public.
‘It was interesting also to hear how he spoke – very quietly. People in authority often do,’ the actor said.
Sir Kenneth Branagh, 61, revealed how he met with Prince Charles, then 40, as he prepared to play and direct Shakespeare’s Henry V in 1989 (pictured in 2019 in London)
The actor, pictured in the movie with Emma Thompson, said he suffered from impostor syndrome before he directed his film
‘They don’t need to raise their voices – the degree of thoughtfulness, the degree of detail. Watching them when they deal with large numbers of people.’
Branagh explained Prince Charles understood that people expect memorable moments when they meet him and that it was his desire to connect with people who were ‘dazzled’ by his job title.
The actor continued: ‘Built in, and I could see it in every fabric of his being, a sense of duty, a sense of privilege, a sense of sacrifice.
‘For all of the first class life that they lead, they know it’s an accident of birth and one that they need to meet by a commitment to serving others.
‘And I saw in his case a genuine expression of that, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a monarchist, an anti-monarchist or whatever.
‘I felt that what I was hoping to find in the character of Henry V, because I believed it was there as Shakespeare wrote it, was this sort of spiritual or character confirmation of at least some parts of it, and that carried the sort of interior of the performance into what I was trying to do. So for me it was an invaluable experience.’
Branagh and the Prince of Wales talking after a production of Hamlet starring the actor in 1988
Branagh said it was a combination of his own imposter syndrome – going from his Belfast working-class upbringing to playing a royal – and his young naivety and bravado that led him to find a way to meet Charles.
He had appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Henry V, directed by Adrian Noble, when he was 24, before adapting it for the film version, which he appeared in and directed.
Talking about securing the meeting with Charles, he said: ‘There was a moment when I was playing the part in the theatre where, I do think it’s ignorance, you’re not really thinking, or it’s a tunnel vision about the creativity.
‘And I think this is another thing I carried from Belfast: who the bejazes am I, nine-year-old working-class North Belfast Protestant, to be playing the air to the throne of England and then the King of England. And I thought “well, how do you find out about what that’s like”?’
Talking about his desire to go deeper into a royal’s life and character, Branagh said: ‘I thought “well, how do you find out about what that’s like? Can you find a way to speak to the heir to the throne?”
‘I was voicing these concerns over a pint with a friend of mine, who said “well actually, you know, I do know someone who knows someone”. He said “if you’re serious and you will be discreet”. And so he arranged a number of intermediary meetings.
‘I was very clearly screened. But eventually I met Prince Charles who was very open, particularly about the burdens of expectation, and the fact of isolation, and this to me was very interesting.’
Branagh added that despite his conscientious preparation with Charles the launch of the film was at risk until the last minute.
He added: ‘Financing was harem-scarem right up to the last minute. I remember Sir David Puttnam was involved for a while, Lord Puttnam as he now is, and he I remember called me in with a month to go before shooting.
‘He just felt that the finance wasn’t strong enough. And I’m 27 years old and he says “Ken, I’ve got to tell you with absolute certainty, this film will collapse, either two weeks before or two weeks after principle photography begins and your movie career will be over in its entirety”.
‘And I said “well gosh, gosh, well I very much hear what you’re saying sir, and thank you for being involved up to this point and I’m grateful for your candour”.
‘And it was a great challenge. I didn’t go away thinking “how dare he”. I thought “well I’m sure he means and knows what he says, he’s been there many times”.
‘It was with ten days to go, maybe even a week to go.’
Dame Judi Dench, Paul Scofield, and Robert Stephens also appeared in the film.