William Roasts Gary Oldman Before Knighting Him at Windsor: 'I Just Want to Give You a Good Wash'

Prince William couldn’t contain his excitement when he knighted Sir Gary Oldman during an investiture ceremony on September 30. The Prince of Wales is reportedly a huge fan of the veteran actor and particularly enjoys his role as an M15 agent in Slow Horses. Oldman revealed that after the ceremony, William joked about giving him a ‘good wash,’ as he received knighthood for services to drama. He shared that the Prince also spoke highly of his other movies and was thrilled to be the one conferring the knighthood.

Oldman, who spoke to The London Standard, revealed that William quipped, "[William is] a fan of Slow Horses. And he says, ‘Every time I see you, I just want to give you a good wash.’ And I said, ‘Well, I think I’ve scrubbed up OK today.'" William was referring to Oldman's character as Jack Lamb in the Apple TV show — a rough-around-the-edges M15 agent who is usually a mess during high-stakes situations.

For those unversed, Slow Horses is based on the Slough House book series by writer Mick Herron. 

Oldman, known for his portrayals of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Sex Pistols member Sid Vicious, shared that the Prince was a huge fan. He said, "He [William] mentioned The Fifth Element and Churchill of Darkest Hour. He said he was very happy that I was here today and that it was he who had the opportunity to present me with (the honor)."

Reciprocating the admiration, Oldman stressed that the honor was his. "It was emotional. Very emotional. We spoke for a minute, but I almost couldn’t find my voice. I think I feel very honored, very humbled, and flattered, I think in equal measure. It compares to nothing else. It’s a singular event, that is what it is."

After the prestigious ceremony, the Prince of Wales thanked Oldman on his social media. "Thank you, Sir Gary Oldman, for decades of unforgettable performances, whether as hero or villain, or something in between!" The reel showed the actor receiving the knighthood with a double sword tap on his shoulders and speaking about his journey in films before eventually being ‘kidnapped’ into movies. 

The Prince of Wales also knighted several other dignitaries at the investiture ceremony. One of them included actress Samantha Morton, honored for her contributions to drama, and footballer Rachel Daly, recognized for her services to women's football. During a June ceremony, he knighted Sir Gareth Southgate for his honorable services to English soccer and Jaco Van Gass, with a prestigious OBE. William has been carrying out investiture ceremonies since 2013, when he stepped in for the late Queen Elizabeth to present knighthoods at Buckingham Palace.