Posted: 14:28, September 11, 2022 | Updated: 16:24, 11 September 2022
Catherine Zeta-Jones says the death of Her Majesty The Queen has made her pine for the UK and “proud” of her British heritage.
The long-serving monarch died on Thursday afternoon aged 96, 70 years after she succeeded her father King George VI on the royal throne.
Reflecting on her death and the inevitable outpouring of grief that has swept the nation, Zeta-Jones, who lives in the United States with husband Michael Douglas, described her as an “inspiration”.
Tribute: Catherine Zeta-Jones says Her Majesty The Queen’s death made her pine for the UK and ‘proud’ of her British heritage
Speaking at the Disney D23 Expo on Saturday, she said: “I’m a big royal and I love the royal family and what they do for our country.
“As a girl growing up in Wales, in Britain, in the UK, I had my mum who was the strongest, safest person to be around, but I also had a queen.
“And I don’t just mean she was a queen sitting on a throne, we’re at Disney where queens and princesses are the thing du jour, but a woman who was a real inspiration.
Farewell: The long-serving monarch died on Thursday afternoon aged 96, 70 years after replacing her father King George VI on the royal throne
Speaking out: Catherine spoke about the Queen during her appearance at the Disney D23 Expo on Saturday
“I’m in a country that has never had a woman as a leading figure, power and respect, and so I’m going to miss her a lot.”
The Welsh star also admitted she felt a part of her identity had been lost as a result of the Queen’s tragic death.
He added: “I kept calling my mum on FaceTime and saying ‘do you feel how I feel?’ and they said yes.
Model: The Welsh actress, who lives in the United States with her husband Michael Douglas, described the Queen as an ‘inspiration’
Support: Zeta Jones also shared her belief that newly appointed King Charles III would do a ‘great job’ as ‘the baton is passed’
“I don’t know if it’s because I’m British, but I felt like a little part of me was gone.
“There will never be a queen again in my life, but it was a very strange feeling. (I felt) very nostalgic, very proud of my heritage.”
The actress also shared her belief that newly appointed King Charles III would do an “excellent job” as “the baton was passed”.
Charles, the former Prince of Wales, was crowned king in a historic ceremony at St James’s Palace on Saturday after an accession council meeting in which he swore in secret advisers.
Step up: Charles, the former Prince of Wales, was crowned king in a historic ceremony at St James’s Palace on Saturday
