MAKING IT A RIGHT ROYAL NIGHT - 'GLADIATOR II'

THE KING WALKS THE RED CARPET AT FILM'S STARRY WORLD PREMIERE

- LAURA BENJAMIN

The stars of Gladiator II emerged victorious on the red carpet at last week’s royal premiere of the hotly anticipated movie.

Actors Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, legendary director Sir Ridley Scott and the film’s female lead, Connie Nielsen, chatted to the King as he arrived at the Odeon Luxe cinema in London’s Leicester Square.

Stylish in a tuxedo, His Majesty – who arrived alone, with the Queen unable to attend due to a chest infection – smiled as he stepped out of his Bentley car before shaking hands with the cast.

Hollywood star Denzel, 69, said that he didn’t know whether to shake the King’s hand or not, before confiding in the monarch that his character in the movie was “awful”.

“I’m a lovely man, you see; I’m a lovely chap. I do my best,” said the Oscar winner, who brought along his wife, actress Pauletta Washington, as his date.

Paul told His Majesty that he plays Lucius in the film, to which the King replied: “You get captured,” before turning to Sir Ridley and asking what happened to Lucius.