King pays tribute to Dame Maggie Smith as he says he’s ‘deeply saddened’ by death of legendary actress

THE King has paid tribute to "national treasure" Dame Maggie Smith pursuing her decease contiguous aged 89.

King Charles expressed his sadness astatine the decease of the Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey histrion who had a vocation spanning 70 years.

He said: “My woman and I were profoundly saddened to larn of the decease of Dame Maggie Smith.

"As the curtain comes down connected a nationalist treasure, we articulation each those astir the satellite successful remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her galore large performances, and her warmth and wit that shone done some connected and disconnected the stage.”

Smith was among the stars successful attendance astatine the King's coronation astatine Westminster Abbey past year.

She often joined the King astatine Sandringham Flower Show on with chap nationalist treasure Dame Judi Dench.

Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said she died successful hospital early this morning.

In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: “It is with large sadness we person to denote the decease of Dame Maggie Smith.

"She passed distant peacefully successful infirmary aboriginal this morning, Friday September 27.

"An intensely backstage person, she was with friends and household astatine the end."