Oscar-winning actor Sir Gary Oldman has officially received a knighthood for his services to drama, in a ceremony led by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Tuesday (30 September).
The 67-year-old star, best known for roles ranging from Sirius Black in Harry Potter to Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour, said he felt “very emotional” as Prince William presented him with the honour.
The heir to the throne couldn’t resist a light-hearted remark about Oldman’s latest role as the unkempt MI5 agent Jackson Lamb in the hit Apple TV+ series Slow Horses.
“I just want to give you a good wash,” William told him, according to Sir Gary, who laughed as he recalled replying: “Well, I think I’ve scrubbed up OK today.”
Reflecting on the milestone moment, the actor admitted he was almost lost for words:
“It was emotional. Very emotional. We spoke for a minute, but I almost couldn’t find my voice. I feel very honoured, very humbled and flattered, I think in equal measure. It compares to nothing else. It’s a singular event, that is what it is.”
Sir Gary also joked about the appeal of playing Jackson Lamb: “He’s got sort of an acid wit, sarcastic, he drinks too much, smokes too much, eats all the wrong things. Who wouldn’t want to play that?”
The Prince went on to mention other highlights from Oldman’s career, including The Fifth Element and Darkest Hour, and said he was “very happy” to be the one presenting the actor with the knighthood.
What did Prince William say to Sir Gary Oldman when he formally knighted the Slow Horses actor at Windsor Castle today?
Sir Gary, who plays unkempt Jackson Lamb, told us that William said: “I just want to give you a good wash!”
🧼 🚿 🧽 pic.twitter.com/xQtBL0eynl— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) September 30, 2025
For Oldman, whose filmography spans cult classics like True Romance to his BAFTA-winning directorial debut Nil by Mouth (1997), the recognition marked a career-defining moment:
“I thought the Oscar was a big deal. No disrespect to the Academy, but it sort of pales in comparison to this. It’s just been wonderful.”