Acting legend Russell Crowe is the latest celebrity to weigh in on the debate surrounding the need for the monarchy, with King Charles's historical crowning at Westminster Abbey just a matter of days away.
The 74-year-old monarch will officially be crowned alongside his wife Queen Camilla as head of state on Saturday, May 6.
But amid celebrations gearing across the country for the landmark event, there's been a lot of discussion over the need for the Royal Family in today's modern society, with many struggling to make ends meet.
It was previously reported that the Coronation celebrations are estimated to be costing around £50 million to £100 million.
And now, Gladiators actor Russell, 59, has weighed in on the debate and said, although Charles is a “good bloke” he believes “we don’t need a King”.
In a lengthy statement posted on Twitter on Monday as reported by News AU, the Gladiator actor recalled meeting Charles with his former wife Danielle Spencer at a royal film premiere in 2003.
He said: "Dani was six months pregnant with our first. We did the obligatory conga line of cast introductions, then we sat with him for the film.
"The man who would be King was kind. He was also funny. Deeply intelligent and good company, and gallant in his deference to Dani’s pregnancy. I’ll never forget the warmth in our last hand shake. Good bloke."
But the New Zealand actor explained that his respect for the Royals only went so far, as he detailed his disdain of greeting them by their official titles.
"In any of my meetings with royalty, I haven’t yet been able to utter the ‘your highness’," he wrote.
"It simply doesn’t come out of my mouth. It’s not in my DNA. I called both William and Harry ‘mate’ when I met them. I thought the equerry (an officer of the British royal household) was going to pass out.
"That doesn’t mean however that I meant any disrespect or discourtesy. Far from it. I was pleased to meet them.
"I view the costumes and the ritual and the pageantry with distant interest, if any. I don’t know what it’s all supposed to mean in 2023, nor in any other time for that matter. I don’t really think we need a King, but I’m sure Charles III will do the very best job he can."
He added: "I don’t think any of us can really understand what that life of duty and expectation must feel like.
"He’s taking over the family business. That is his destiny. Like it is for many, from publishers to plasterers."
What star-studded Celebs are expected to be at the coronation?
Buckingham Palace has been keeping the guestlist of famous faces under fairly tight wraps ahead of the big day.
Grammy Award-winning legend Lionel Richie has already been confirmed as one of the headline acts at a star-studded concert in Windsor Castle the following day, and will be in attendance at Westminster Abbey for the event on May 6.
The full line-up of the celebrity attendees has not been published, but other famous faces who will be on it, according to a preview list issued by Palace officials earlier this week, includes Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Kelly Jones, lead singer of Stereophonics, and restoration and recycling champion Jay Blades, presenter of the hit BBC television series The Repair Shop.
An unnamed group of Nobel prize winners also made the list for the event, which has seen numbers slashed from the King's late mother Queen Elizabeth's Coronation back in 1953 from 8,000 to only 2,000 invited this time around.
Others included are recipients of the British Empire Medal who have been honoured for good works such as English schoolboy Max Woosey, who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for a hospice by sleeping in a tent in his garden for three years.
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