King Charles is mourning the death of actress Dame Maggie Smith, notable for her acclaimed roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. On Friday, September 27, 2024, the world received the news of the sad passing of the beloved actress, who has been a household name for over seven decades. Her family confirmed her death in a public statement, revealing she died peacefully in a hospital Friday morning at the ripe old age of 89. No cause of death was disclosed.
Following the news of her sad passing, several fans, colleagues and high-profile figures have turned to social media to pay their last respects with heartfelt tributes. King Charles III, the King of the UK and the Commonwealth joined this show of reference to a lost icon on Instagram stories and X. In his tribute, the monarch acknowledged Dame Maggie Smith as a “national treasure,” reflecting on her wonderful performances on and off the stage which live on after her death. He penned,
“My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Maggie Smith. As the church 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.”
The condolence message, released by Buckingham Palace shortly after Maggie Smith’s death announcement featured a photo of King Charles and the Harry Potter actress at the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards. In the now-iconic snap, the duo looked engrossed in a conversation, laughing heartily as they chatted on.
Dame Maggie Smith Leaves Behind an Impressive Legacy
Aside from her most memorable portrayal of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise, her other notable roles include Downton Abbey, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and California Suite. While the latter two earned Dame Maggie Smith her two Oscar Awards, she snagged a Tony win for the film, Lettice and Lovage decades before her death.
Her outstanding works in the performing arts earned the recognition of the then-British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The late monarch bestowed her the title of dame in 1990, an honorific title Maggie Smith rose up to until her death in 2024. Outside her acting career, the icon devoted time to her large family, comprising two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, and five grandchildren. In the statement announcing their death, the icon’s family described her as an extraordinary mother and grandmother, and an “intensely private person.”
More high-profile figures have since joined the tributes to Maggie Smith, extending condolences to her family as they mourn her heartbreaking death. Her Downton Abbey co-star reflected on their years working together, describing her as a true legend. Daniel Radcliffe, who worked with Smith on Harry Potter described the news of his co-star’s death as “truly heartbreaking,” while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recognized her “great talent,” which cemented her as a legend for many generations to come.
