King Charles comes face to face with Gladiators!

Gladiators abound!

King Charles had a solo night out at the Gladiator II premiere Wednesday evening, meeting the much-hyped film’s stars and director ahead of a special showing at the Odeon in Leicester Square.

Among the stars were Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Connie Neilsen. Director Ridley Scott also shook hands with the King.

King Charles could be heard asking Denzel Washington if he was playing “someone terrible” in the film, though the actor reassured him with, “I’m a lovely man, you’ll see.”

Following his meeting with the film’s stars and director, King Charles met with representatives from Paramount Pictures, the film’s distributor, and the Film and TV Charity, before heading to his seat for the premiere.

Gladiator II marked the 72^nd Royal Film Performance. The first, held back in 1946 and attended by King George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and Princess Margaret, was A Matter of Life and Death.

King Charles had been due to attend the film’s premiere with Queen Camilla, but she had to bow out as she continues recuperating from a chest infection. She attended a Buckingham Palace reception earlier in the day celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Film and TV Charity.

The soundtrack from the original Gladiator film—released in 2000 to critical and commercial acclaim, ultimately winning a host of Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor—was played at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace earlier Wednesday as a tease of the evening’s premiere.

King Charles is Patron of the Film and TV Charity, which supports those working behind the scenes in the film and television industry with their mental health and financial wellbeing.

Following the Gladiator II premiere, the Royal Family posted on social media: “What a night! 🎬💫”