It is not unusual for those who get the chance to meet the Queen to speak of their awe at her warm and kind character. And it seems that veteran actor Brian Blessed is no different.
Speaking after receiving an OBE from the monarch at Windsor Castle for services to art and charity, the 79-year-old acting legend said that Her Majesty was ‘‘the finest we’ve ever produced with mystical quality.’’
“I find her always an enchanting professional, she’s utterly professional,” He said.
“She does have something special. She does have an extraordinary inner beauty and grace and that’s what I felt just now.”
Blessed also revealed that the Queen discussed with him the charity work he does. He joked that she was glad to see him and that she ‘’chuckled and chuckled and chuckled.’’
He said, ‘’We talked about my charity work and mountaineering and so forth.
”We [also] talked about Prince Charles. I am one of his ambassadors, helping with all kinds of charity and I do a lot for him and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. We talked about that. Not about me and really not about her. She looked wonderful.”
The Yorkshire-born actor, whose television and theatre career expands over six decades, also confirmed that the Queen and Prince Philip are fans of Flash Gordon, in which Blessed plays Prince Vultan and produces a trade-mark ear-splitting cry ‘’Gordon is alive!’’.
In addition to Blessed, the monarch also honoured foster couple Wendy and John Palczynski (MBE), who have cared for 29 children over 13 years, and Professor Peter Johnson (CBE), leader of Cancer Research UK at the University of Southampton.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours also included royal servant Paul Whybrew, Page of the Backstairs to Queen Elizabeth II, who appeared alongside the Queen for the James Bond Olympics clip in 2012.
