Queen is 'quite amused' at premiere

7:57am Tuesday 18th November 2008

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh gave film comedy A Bunch Of Amateurs the Royal stamp of approval when she attended its premiere.

British actors Samantha Bond, Imelda Staunton and Sir Derek Jacobi were among the cast who met the Queen before the showing.

Ms Bond said: "I have never met her before. We discussed the chilliness of filming on the Isle of Man in February."

She said the Queen said the movie sounded "quite amusing".

American actor Burt Reynolds, who was not at the premiere in London, stars as an ageing actor who is tricked into playing King Lear in an amateur dramatic production in Suffolk, thinking it is a grand production in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Ms Bond said: "Prince Philip asked if we were still talking to one another which is quite funny as Derek, Imelda and I have been bosom buddies for years."

Sir Derek plays Nigel, a local solicitor, who is furious when the American has-been takes the lead in the production in a barn at Stratford St John, Suffolk.

The Queen was attending the screening in her role as patron of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF).

Receipts from ticket sales for the performance go towards the CTBF, which helps employees in the film and TV industry in times of hardship.

Chief executive Peter Hore said: "Tonight is a really important night for British cinema. It's the 62nd Royal Film Performance. It's the only day the Queen comes to the cinema in the West End. The Queen is our patron and has helped us to raise millions of pounds, in excess of £6 million. Tonight's film is a feel-good movie, it's going to make you laugh and cry. It's not a big movie but it will be a classic movie after tonight."