The Royal Family fans have been slammed as “flag-waving idiots” by actor Steve Coogan who accused royalists of supporting a “power structure” that holds back working-class people.
The actor, best known for his role as Alan Partridge, said he thought the late Queen Elizabeth II was “alright”, but believes the other members of the family are “problematic”, reported Telegraph.
Talking about it on the Off Menu podcast, he said: “Most people who are into [the Royal family] are flag-waving people who, I think, are kind of idiots because they support a power structure that keeps a foot on the throat of working-class people and I’m just not really keen on that type of people.
“But having said that, the Queen worked very hard so she was alright – the rest of them, they’re problematic for me.”
The comments came months after the King Charles’ Coronation that was watched by more than 18 million people across the country.
A large number of people queued on the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the King on the day, with some royalists turning up a week early in order to secure their spot.
Michelle Donelan, who served as culture secretary at the time of the Queen’s death, previously revealed more than 250,000 people saw the monarch lying in state in London, with queues stretching from Parliament along the south bank of the Thames to Southwark Park.
Coogan, whose most recent role saw him portray Jimmy Savile in BBC drama The Reckoning, said he was “a bit torn” on the King.
He added: “I do like King Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall produce even though I am an anti-monarchist.
“It’s interesting because I buy that stuff and I go ‘I don’t like having a Royal family but I do like his produce’ so I feel a bit torn.”
Earlier, the actor had said that he has “enormous respect” for the late Queen.
Speaking at the London premiere of The Lost King, he said he wasn’t a monarchist.
He said: “But the caveat I have to add to that,” he said, “is that I had huge and enormous respect for the late Queen – that’s a separate thing.
“People who have displayed conscientious duty (like the Queen) deserve great respect.”
