Paul Mescal's intention behind blunt comment about King Charles laid bare

Paul Mescal had no intention of insulting King Charles, a royal expert has revealed, after the actor made candid admission that meeting the monarch wasn't a priority due to his Irish heritage.

At the premiere of Gladiator II, the Aftersun star said that as an Irish citizen, meeting King Charles wasn't high on his list.

However, the star noted that he was happy for Ridley Scott, the director of the epic historical action film, adding that it was “pretty special” seeing his film being celebrated.

Sharing his take on Mescal’s comments, royal expert and commentator Gareth Russell said he believes the actor's remarks were not a personal attack on the King or the monarchy.

“When he was asked, ‘How did it feel to meet the King?’, he said he was Irish, so it wasn't on his list of priorities,” he told GB News.

“The frustration from some Irish actors is that various journalists seem to think they're British, and they're often included amongst British actors,” the expert added.

He continued: “It sounded like, when I listened to the clip, that Paul Mescal was really just trying to be quite clear that he wasn't meeting his head of state.

“However, if you listen to the rest of the clip, he's not rude about the King. He doesn't insult Britain or the monarchy.

“I don't think, having listened to the whole clip, that Mescal was insulting Britain or the King, I think he was just trying to be fairly clear that he's not British and that he's a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.”

Russel further stated, “Obviously there is a long history with many Irish nationalists and Republicans being anti the British monarchy.

“But I think if you listen to what Mescal was saying, he was just being very clear, proud of a southern Irish identity, but not in any way, I think, personally insulting to the King at all.”