By Christopher Sharp

Copyright walesonline

The celebrated Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has emphasised that King Charles is not her friend, despite the pair getting along brilliantly. In her latest publication The Little Book of Miriam, Miriam, 84, discusses her encounters with the monarch prior to his coronation and expresses her deep admiration for him. Nevertheless, the actress explains she wouldn’t describe the King, 76, as a friend because doing so would be “an impertinence”, reports the Express . She said: “I like and respect him, although I am politically a socialist. He cares about the planet, the country, all the people of the United Kingdom. “He is human and honest, fundamentally serious but with a glorious sense of humour. I am not his friend – to claim that would be an impertinence. “But I know enough to believe in his decency and kindness, and when I read some of the ghastly stuff newspapers write, I rush to defend him wherever I can. “I value his worth. We are lucky to have such a king. I wish him health and strength and a long and happy life with his beloved queen, who is totally delicious.” Miriam also provided details about her initial encounter with Charles during his time as Prince of Wales , which came after he heard an audio version of her performance in the beloved Charles Dickens tale Oliver Twist. She remembered: “I met King Charles when he was the Princes of Wales. He had listened to my audio-recording of Oliver Twist and generously hand-wrote a letter of praise and appreciation, delivered by a royal car to my Clapham home. “I have been invited to Sandringham, to Buckingham Palace, to Clarence House, and we have talked about Charles Dickens in all those places.” Miriam’s remarks about the King come after a spell during which the actress has been candid about her current health situation, revealing that she intends to move in with her partner Heather Sutherland. In conversation with the Observer, she explained her choice was influenced by the present condition of the world and the recognition that our time here is limited. She shared with the publication: “The world around us has lost its charm. And we just want each other in a beautiful place which we know. “We can toddle along and laugh and just quietly subside into old age. But together. We’re here for such a short time. It’s gone so fast. Mentally, I’m still fairly crisp.” Miriam and Heather have been a couple for nearly 60-years, yet have selected this particular moment to cohabit. Discussing their partnership, Miriam revealed: “We are together, but we live apart. She is in Amsterdam, and I am in London but now we want to live together. “I really do want to live with her because we are old, and we haven’t got much time left. It is silly to live apart.”