Entertainment
Is London’s Prince Charles Cinema changing its name to reflect King Charles III’s ascension to the throne?-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
Will PCC become KCC?
The independent cinema has been popular since the 1990s (Picture: Google/PA/Twitter)
The death of Queen Elizabeth II aged 96 has sparked a period of great change in the UK as King Charles takes to the throne and the country contends with the end of a 70-year reign.
As the national anthem – with God Save the King ringing out just hours after the Queen’s death – stamps, money, passports and much more begin to transition for the new era, the amount of change in this progress is writ large.
On Sunday, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla waved to crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace as they headed through the gates from Clarence House, ahead of meeting with representatives from the Commonwealth this afternoon as part of his duties as new monarch.
There is, however, one burning question on the lips of film fans: What is happening with the Prince Charles Cinema next to London’s Leicester Square, and – more specifically – will it be changing its name?
The much-loved independent cinema operates with a rotating programme of cult, art house and classic films, as well as seasons celebrating famous filmmakers and franchises, alongside Hollywood’s latest releases.
Built between 1961 and 1962, it first opened and operated as a theatre when its namesake was just 13 years old.
The PCC paid tribute to the Queen following her death (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
King Charles III took over as monarch as soon as his mother died (Picture: PA)
It then shifted to become a porn cinema and holds the record for the longest UK runs of both French erotic film series Emmanuelle and 1979’s Caligula, starring Malcolm McDowell, Dame Helen Mirren and Peter O’Toole.
By 1991 it was reinvented as the Prince Charles Cinema and began to flourish as the picture house we know and love today.
However, with great popularity comes great responsibility (or something like that) and fans have been badgering the cinema this week to see if it plans to change its name in line with its namesake’s ascension to the throne and new moniker, King Charles.
Photos of a sign Metro.co.uk understands was put on the door on Saturday have been circulating on social media, with the angled piece of A4 paper simply reading: ‘No, we are not changing our name.’
However, there’s no word yet as to if this is the official line the PCC is taking.
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Fans were enjoying the notice though, with one joking: ‘How very cavalier of them’, which in turned earned the response ‘Jacobites, eh’ from another social media user.
Others branded it ‘brilliant’ and ‘amazing’, with several professing their love for the independent cinema.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the Prince Charles Cinema for comment.
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