Ralph Fiennes Recalls Being on theJames BondFilm Set with 'Warm' and 'Charming' King Charles (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ralph Fiennesis looking back on time spent withKing Charles.In anexclusive interview with PEOPLE for My Life in Pictures, the actor, 61, recalls the then-Prince of Wales, 76, paying a set visit to the James Bond filmNo Time to Diein 2021.“The atmosphere changes when royalty visits a film set,” Fiennes says. “Even if they don’t button them up literally, there’s a bit of internal buttoning up that might go on.“Adding that “royalty provokes the spectrum of responses,” including “people who say, ‘Oh, f—! The Prince of Wales is coming. What a pain,’ " he continues, “To other people, [it’s like], ‘Did you see him? What’s he like?’ “Ralph Fiennes meeting King Charles on the set of ‘No Time to Die’.Niklas Halle’n - WPA Pool/GettyAccording to Fiennes, King Charles was “warm” and “charming to meet” when he visited the set of the Bond film, in which he played the character “M.“The Returnstaradds that his interaction with the British royal was “easy.“King Charles laterattended the September 2021 premiere of the film in London, alongsideQueen Camilla,Prince WilliamandKate Middleton.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ralph Fiennes, King Charles.Dominik Bindl/Getty; Samir Hussein/WireImageNo Time to Diewas the third film in which Fiennes played M, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6.The film marked the end ofDaniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond, which stretched across five movies over 15 years — including 2006’sCasino Royale,2008’sQuantum of Solace,2012’sSkyfalland2015’sSpectre.Fiennes recently starred inConclaveandThe Return,which debuted in October and December, respectively.The star will next appear in the horror-thriller28 Years Later,which also featuresCillian MurphyandAaron Taylor-Johnson, when it hits theaters on June 20, 2025.

Ralph Fiennesis looking back on time spent withKing Charles.

In anexclusive interview with PEOPLE for My Life in Pictures, the actor, 61, recalls the then-Prince of Wales, 76, paying a set visit to the James Bond filmNo Time to Diein 2021.

“The atmosphere changes when royalty visits a film set,” Fiennes says. “Even if they don’t button them up literally, there’s a bit of internal buttoning up that might go on.”

Adding that “royalty provokes the spectrum of responses,” including “people who say, ‘Oh, f—! The Prince of Wales is coming. What a pain,’ " he continues, “To other people, [it’s like], ‘Did you see him? What’s he like?’ "

Ralph Fiennes meeting King Charles on the set of ‘No Time to Die’.Niklas Halle’n - WPA Pool/Getty

Niklas Halle’n - WPA Pool/Getty

According to Fiennes, King Charles was “warm” and “charming to meet” when he visited the set of the Bond film, in which he played the character “M.”

The Returnstaradds that his interaction with the British royal was “easy.”

King Charles laterattended the September 2021 premiere of the film in London, alongsideQueen Camilla,Prince WilliamandKate Middleton.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ralph Fiennes, King Charles.Dominik Bindl/Getty; Samir Hussein/WireImage

Dominik Bindl/Getty; Samir Hussein/WireImage

No Time to Diewas the third film in which Fiennes played M, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6.

The film marked the end ofDaniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond, which stretched across five movies over 15 years — including 2006’sCasino Royale,2008’sQuantum of Solace,2012’sSkyfalland2015’sSpectre.

Fiennes recently starred inConclaveandThe Return,which debuted in October and December, respectively.

The star will next appear in the horror-thriller28 Years Later,which also featuresCillian MurphyandAaron Taylor-Johnson, when it hits theaters on June 20, 2025.

source: people.com