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.