Prince William makes BAFTA gaffe after saying harrowing film 'looks like fun'

19 February 2024 , 14:18

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Prince William made a bit of a blunder at the BAFTAs after saying an agonising film 'looked like fun' (Image: PA)

Prince William made a bit of a blunder at the BAFTAs after saying an agonising film 'looked like fun'.

The Prince of Wales, 41, was speaking to Rising Star winner Mia McKenna-Bruce, who has been hailed for her role in drama How To Have Sex. Mia, 26, bagged the prestigious gong, which was awarded at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, for her performance as Tara, a virgin who goes on holiday with friends to Greek island Malia where she is raped by a fellow tourist.

However, despite not having seen the film, William told the actress it looked like it was a "lot of fun". The future monarch greeted Mia, who has also starred in Tracy Beaker Returns, by saying: "I haven't yet watched your film - I think it looked like you had a lot of fun all the way through."

Rising Star winner Mia McKenna-Bruce, who has been hailed for her role in drama, How To Have Sex (Getty Images for BAFTA)

After shaking hands with the performer and her fellow Rising Star nominees - The Bear's Ayo Edebiri, Phoebe Dynevor and Sophie Wilde - William admitted he had not watched any of their movies. He said on entering the backstage area: "The category was so strong, all of you - it was like who is going to pull this off? It was incredible. It was very close between all of you."

After Mia recommend he watch her film, the prince replied: "I've got a lot of films to catch up on. Normally I get quite ahead of the awards ceremony, I get to see quite a few of them. I haven't managed to get that many through."

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Mia has described How To Have Sex as an important movie "for young people in particular who are at this point in their lives of self-discovery". She said: "There's a kind of expectation that you should just know what to do when it comes to losing your virginity or talking about consent, then you're just left to figure it out on your own."

The film, a 15-rated movie made by Film 4, was written and directed by Molly Manning Walker and won the Un Certain Regard prize at last May's Cannes Festival where it had its world premiere.

William appeared at the BAFTAs without his wife, Kate, who is recovering from abdominal surgery. He is also dealing with the shock of his father, King Charles' cancer diagnosis as the monarch undergoes treatment.

The father-of-three apologised at the ceremony for confirming his attendance to the BAFTAs late in the day, and for also not watching many of the films - stating that, understandably, he has "other things" on his mind.

Victoria Johns