Dislike Shakespeare? You're Not Alone, This Royal Didn't Like Him Either

Summary

• Many people can't stand Shakespeare, despite his cultural significance.
• Rumor has it that Queen Elizabeth II hated the playwright and his work.
• Her Majesty's family must have known of this dislike and made fun of it.

It's difficult to measure the culture-impact of a single person on an entire civilization, but there have been some outstanding individuals whose work has proven vital to civilization. William Shakespeare may well be one such person, as his many writings have shaped the English language and largely defined its culture, though some people question whether he even existed.

Shakespeare's plays and sonnets are world-famous and beloved by millions. Furthermore, his writings are still relevant today as they are constantly being adapted into movies, operas, and other performances. However, some people just don't understand the hype surrounding his work. In particular, the late Queen Elizabeth II is rumored to have had a deep dislike for Shakespeare.

A Theater Rumor

It may sound surprising, but this is a well-known rumor in the British theater community. Recently, Sir Ian McKellen, who has starred in many stage productions during his extensive career and whom you may know as Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings film series and Magneto from the X-Men franchise, revealed just how much the late Queen disliked Shakespeare.

'It was well known, the Queen [Elizabeth II] didn't like Shakespeare. And in fact, the president of the Royal Shakespeare Company said that she would come to Stratford[-upon-Avon] but as long as they weren't doing Shakespeare,' McKellen revealed in an interview, referring to the playwright's birthplace.

King Charles III's Mischievous Act

It's not known why Her Majesty held such a grudge against Shakespeare. And sadly, it's been a year and a half since Queen Elizabeth II died, taking the secret of her hatred for the famous playwright to her grave. But it seems that her own family once found her dislike of him amusing.

'I wonder if there's something behind the wonderful speech that her son gave on her death about how much he'd loved her and everything, and he then ended his speech by saying, "Good night and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!" which is from the play Hamlet [by Shakespeare], written to his mother who, we all know, hated Shakespeare…' Sir Ian speculated about King Charles' possible farewell prank.

Sure, it's just speculation, but it's still hilarious. Most of all, it's amazing that the late Queen might have hated Shakespeare, as many schoolchildren do.

Source: YouTube.