Josh O’Connor is currently promoting Challengers, where he is one of two men dramatically vying for Zendaya’s affections and tennis coaching. Josh is arguably best known for playing Prince Charles in Season 3 & 4 of The Crown. Josh was honestly great in the role, even if he was too attractive to play a 20-something and 30-something Charles. Josh won a SAG Award, Emmy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice for playing Charles. After that, he was always asked about the Windsors, like he’s some kind of royal consultant. He clearly studied Charles’s speech patterns and mannerisms, but beyond that, Josh has admitted that he’s a small-r republican, he doesn’t really give a sh-t about the Windsors and he didn’t even watch the coronation last year. Well, while Josh was promoting Challengers, he was asked about the Kate-gate/Where Is Kate thing. Josh kept it professional and kind:

The Crown star Josh O’Connor is sending his well-wishes to Kate Middleton amid her recent cancer news. The actor, 33, who portrayed a young King Charles in seasons 3 and 4 of the Netflix drama, was asked about the Princess of Wales’ cancer news while speaking at Tuesday’s premiere of his new film Challengers in Sydney, Australia. Although the actor, who starred as the then-Prince of Wales in The Crown alongside Emma Corrin as Princess Diana, previously said in 2020 that he’s “not interested in the royal family,” per the Irish Times, he expressed sympathy for the royal.

“I really missed all the Kate stuff that everyone was talking online about,” O’Connor told 9honey Celebrity, seemingly referring to the online conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts before Princess Kate, 42, revealed her diagnosis on Friday.

“And as soon as I heard about [Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis]…I just always feel so sorry for them,” he added. “I know it’s part of their job, but they’re born into it. And the way everyone was talking about Kate, I found really sad.”

“But I just hope she’s all right, and everyone’s thinking of her and sending her good wishes,” O’Connor said.

[From People]

It’s a little bit funny to me that the Windsors think they’re god’s gift (literally) and they’re the highest echelon of society and everyone has to bow and scrape, and then Josh is like “wow, I feel sorry for them, they’re kind of pathetic.” It’s true though. Anyway, I don’t think Josh is super-online in general, so I’m not surprised that he missed the whole “Where Is Kate” saga. He’s just doing what everyone else is doing – wishing her well, feeling sorry for her and getting on with his life.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor attend the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Pictured: Josh O’Connor BACKGRID USA 26 MARCH 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Richard Milnes / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor attend the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Pictured: Josh O’Connor BACKGRID USA 26 MARCH 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Richard Milnes / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor attend the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Pictured: Josh O’Connor BACKGRID USA 26 MARCH 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Richard Milnes / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor attend the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Pictured: Josh O’Connor BACKGRID USA 26 MARCH 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Richard Milnes / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*

Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Zendaya, alongside the cast of “Challengers,” captivates at the Australian premiere, marking a dazzling display of talent and elegance. Pictured: Josh O’Connor BACKGRID USA 26 MARCH 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: Brandon Voight / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / UK: +44 208 344 2007 / *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*