Russell Brand’s unusual account of meeting King Charles III has resurfaced following the comedian’s conviction for rape and sexual assault, bringing renewed attention to an encounter he described more than 15 years ago.
Brand recalled meeting the future King, then the Prince of Wales, at the Pride of Britain Awards in London in 2010. During a television interview that year, he claimed Charles appeared to recognise him during their handshake and attempted to move away. Brand said he held on to the royal’s hand, determined to make the most of the unexpected meeting.
The old anecdote has attracted fresh interest as Brand faces the consequences of his criminal conviction. On November 9, the 51-year-old was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women.
Key Points
Russell Brand’s 2010 encounter with King Charles at the Pride of Britain Awards has resurfaced following his criminal conviction.
Brand claimed the then-Prince of Wales appeared to pull away during their handshake.
Brand said he held on to Charles’s hand to prolong the unexpected royal meeting.
Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court.
He was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison on November 9, 2026.
What Russell Brand said about meeting King Charles
Brand discussed the encounter during an appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly in November 2010.
According to the interview transcript, the comedian said he had been directed towards the Prince of Wales during a reception following the Pride of Britain Awards.
He recalled noticing what he interpreted as a moment of recognition in Charles’s expression while they shook hands.
Brand subsequently claimed that Charles appeared to pull away, but he maintained his grip because he wanted to prolong the encounter.
He also joked that he heard the royal’s wrist click as Charles tried to withdraw his hand.
The account was Brand’s own recollection. There is no independent confirmation that Charles experienced the interaction in the way the comedian described it.
The meeting took place at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, where the awards ceremony brought together celebrities and public figures.
Brand’s conviction and prison sentence
The resurfaced story comes against the backdrop of a significant criminal case that ended in November 2026.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial. The offences involved four women and took place between 2004 and 2009.
He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
On November 9, Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced Brand to 10 years and six months in prison. The sentence comprised nine years for rape and additional terms for the sexual assault convictions.
Under the terms explained in court, Brand will serve two-thirds of the sentence in custody before being released on licence. He will also be subject to sex offender notification requirements for life.
Brand denied the charges during the proceedings.
A very different chapter in Brand’s public life
Before the criminal proceedings, Brand was widely recognised as a comedian, actor and television and radio presenter. His entertainment career included films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, as well as high-profile television appearances.
He was also previously married to singer Katy Perry. Their marriage, which began in 2010, ended in 2012.
Brand’s public image came under renewed scrutiny in September 2023, when investigations by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches published allegations of sexual misconduct. Those reports prompted investigations that eventually led to criminal proceedings.
The resurfaced account of his meeting with Charles is therefore more than an old celebrity anecdote attracting attention again. It offers a reminder of Brand’s former position in Britain’s entertainment and celebrity circles, contrasted with the serious criminal convictions that now define this chapter of his public life.
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