Eastbourne actor speaks about the time he met Prince Philip after a performance

Henry Knowles, who was an actor in a matinee performance of King Henry The Fourth, Part Two, recalled meeting Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty The Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon after the show in 1964.

Mr Knowles said, “The cast gathered in the green room of The Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

“As HM The Queen, followed by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, passed along the line of artistes, it became my turn to be presented.

“As I bowed before HM, she didn’t pass on to the next person. She asked me which role I had played in the production.

“After a moment of gathering myself together and realising that I was about to speak to HM The Queen, I said, ‘I played Rumour, Ma’am. He starts the play, he is the Prologue.’

“At this point, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh interjected and said, with a hint of a chuckle in his voice, ‘Oh yes. You were the chap who came on and bloody shouted at us.’

“This being a reference to the way I had been directed to act the part by John Barton, who co-directed the production with Sir Peter Hall.

“I assume that I must have blushed bright crimson as I replied, ‘Yes, I am afraid so, sir.’”