Dame Joanna Lumley has shared heartfelt praise for King Charles, calling him “exceptionally brave” in the face of ongoing health struggles.

Speaking in an interview with Saga Magazine, the beloved British actress and long-time royal supporter opened up about her admiration for the monarch, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

“He really is ill,” the 79-year-old actress said. “But practically nobody can keep up with him. He packs so much into every day. He walks faster than anybody I’ve ever met. He’s incredible.”

While Buckingham Palace has kept the exact type of cancer private, the diagnosis was made public earlier this year after the king, 76, was treated for an enlarged prostate. Despite his condition, King Charles has continued carrying out public duties — something Joanna finds deeply admirable.

“He’s got this unwavering sense of duty,” she said. “It’s very inspiring.”

A life of service, even before the crown

Joanna’s respect for King Charles goes well beyond his health challenges. She reflected on his decades-long contributions as Prince of Wales, calling him “the most brilliant” the UK has ever had.

“It’s not to be unkind to Prince William,” she clarified, “but Charles held that role for so long and achieved so much. The Prince’s Trust alone shows what kind of man he is — he started it in his twenties, and now it’s helped over a million young people.”

The Absolutely Fabulous star also spoke warmly about Queen Camilla, describing her as a “fabulous, golden person.” She acknowledged the difficult public scrutiny Camilla faced in the past, particularly during the breakdown of Charles’s marriage to Princess Diana.

“So much mud was flung,” Joanna said, “but she now does her job without any bitterness.”

Joanna also became emotional when reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II. She was honoured with a damehood in 2022 — one of the last awards given by the late monarch before her death later that year.

“We never saw her in a wheelchair, though she was very frail,” Joanna said. “She left gracefully.”

In 2021, Joanna published A Queen for All Seasons, a book celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s reign through the eyes of those who met her — from diplomats to musicians to ordinary citizens.