Cate Blanchett Recalls Lunch with Royals

Cate Blanchett recently shared a humorous anecdote from her lunch with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live. She recalled her surprise at being invited to the royal luncheon, which included notable guests like the head of the fire brigade and scientist Helen Fielding. During the meal, Prince Philip requested her assistance with his DVD player, stating his confusion over the wiring, which Blanchett found amusing given her lack of technical skills. She jokingly noted that she did not help him, highlighting the stereotype of actors being called upon for unrelated tasks. Furthermore, she quipped that it became clear the Queen had not seen her acclaimed portrayal of Elizabeth I in the 1998 film. This was not the first time Blanchett recounted the story, having previously mentioned it in 2018 on a U.K. talk show.