Dame Maggie Smith was one of the greatest actresses of her time. Whether you knew her from *Harry Potter* or *Downton Abbey*, her absence will be deeply felt.
Keep reading to find out about her last public appearance just a few months ago!
Actress Dame Maggie Smith, best known for her role as Professor McGonagall in *Harry Potter* and Violet Crawley in *Downton Abbey*, has passed away at the age of 89, her family shared.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, released a joint statement saying, “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.”
The statement continued, “She passed away peacefully in the hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. A very private person, she was surrounded by friends and family at the end. She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren who are heartbroken by the loss of their amazing mother and grandmother.”
The family also thanked the hospital and its staff, saying, “We want to thank the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and kindness during her final days.”
The family ended the statement by saying, “We are grateful for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.
The news of her death is a big surprise. The last time she was seen in public was last year at the Wimbledon men’s singles finals. She dressed up nicely for the event, wearing a navy blue shirt dress with a chic dotted pattern. She paired it with black leather heels and a blue overcoat. She also carried a matching navy leather bag over one shoulder.
Her hair was styled in soft waves, and she wore pink lipstick to finish her look.
Since it was rare for the actress to make public appearances, fans were naturally surprised to see her out.
When pictures of her were posted online, people were happy to see her. One person commented, “So elegant!” Another said, “You look so beautiful,” and someone simply added, “Amazing.”
Prince William receives new title from King Charles as Prince Harry arrives in the UK
The beginning of this month marked an important development for the British royal family.
Prince Harry landed in London to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, and during his stay in his home country, his brother, Prince William, received a significant new honour from King Charles. The timing seemed coincidental, but yet, many saw it as a major snub to Prince Harry.
The announcement from the Palace revealed that King Charles III has appointed Prince William as the colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps.
“His Majesty the King will officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” the palace’s statement read. “In August 2023, following His Majesty’s Accession, the King was pleased to announce military appointments including that the Prince of Wales would become Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps. The role was previously held by His Majesty the King, as Prince of Wales, for 31 years.”
William’s new role places him in charge of Harry’s former unit. In 2008, Harry completed his Army Air Corps “Grading” and Pilot’s Selection Board interview, subsequently training as an Army Air Corps pilot in 2009.
“On successful completion of that Army Pilots Course, Prince Harry was selected to train on the Apache Attack Helicopter,” Harry’s official biography before he was removed from the official royal family website read. “On the same day, it was announced that Prince Harry received his provisional wings from his father.” Charles was colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps at the time, making the ceremony extra meaningful for Harry.
The unveiling of Prince William’s new designation emerges during a period of increased public curiosity, partly influenced by the tense rapport between Prince Harry and his father. Speculation surrounding the nature of their exchanges, or the lack thereof, during Prince Harry’s recent trip to the U.K. underscores the intricacies of royal relationships.
During Harry’s most recent visit, he and his father, King Charles, didn’t meet due to the king’s “full programme.”
However, the statement by Prince Harry added that he “hopes to see him soon.”
Despite the strained relationships with the members of the Firm, Harry expressed his happiness about returning to the UK. Regarding the party, he described it as “amazing” and commended the work of Scotty’s, emphasizing the incredible and necessary support they provide to children.
“The more opportunity you get to do these kinds of events, the more the families and kids know this place exists which is really the most important thing,” Harry said, as reported by BBC.
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