Helen Mirren Pays Emotional Tribute to Late Queen Elizabeth II at BAFTA Awards Ceremony

The BAFTA Awards ceremony on Sunday night was filled with emotion as veteran actress Helen Mirren, 77, paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II in a heartfelt speech.

Prince William was visibly moved by the tribute, with his eyes said to have glistened with emotion as the Academy Award-winning star spoke warm words about his grandmother.

During the course of 50 years, the late Queen was a devoted supporter of the Academy, attending numerous events and making generous donations.

At this year's ceremony, held at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday in front of Prince William and Catherine, BAFTA colleague Dame Helen took the stage and stated, “BAFTA's relationship with Her Majesty was longstanding and BAFTA would not be what it is today without her loyal support.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared touched by the tribute and could be seen applauding as the actress concluded her speech.

In 1953, her coronation broadcast had the world watching.

From that time, she was unquestionably the nation's leading lady, but as mysterious as a silent film star.

Who else could meet the world's most famous singers, actors, and performers and turn them into a supporting cast?

Throughout her 70-year reign, she met cinema's greatest icons and witnessed the evolution of Hollywood's Golden Age to the birth of the blockbuster.

Her Majesty was front row for it all.

The actress also mentioned the honorary BAFTA award the late monarch earned in 2013 in honor of her outstanding patronage of the film and television industries as well as the more than 50 cultural organizations the late monarch funded during her lifetime.

Dame Helen continued, “Cinema, at its best, does what Her Majesty did effortlessly, bring us together, and unite us in a story.

Her Majesty, you are our nation's leading star.

On behalf of BAFTA, thank you for all that you have done for our film and television industry.”

The revenues from the documentary film Royal Family were presented by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Society of Cinema and Television Arts in 1972 for a new headquarters.

This organization later changed its name to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, BAFTA.

Upon the Queen's official opening of the organization's premises in 1976, the organization underwent a renaming.

Five decades later, it is still where BAFTA is based in London.

The Royal Variety, Charity, the Film and Television Benevolent Fund, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts were all supported by the Queen throughout her lifetime.

The Prince of Wales, a grandson of the Queen, has served as BAFTA's president since 2010.

After the homage, Dame Helen commented to Alison Hammond, “It was tough.

I didn't want to cry.

I cried a bit when I rehearsed it and I thought, good, I got that over and done with because I wouldn't want to.

But I did feel very strongly about the Queen.

I'm Elizabethan.

She was there for my whole life, so her passing was massive.”

Prior to meeting category winners and iRising Star Award nominees, the Princess and the Prince, President of the British Academy of Cinema and Television Arts, witnessed the awards presentation.

The BAFTA Film Awards honour the remarkable talent, talents, and artistry of the film business each year.