The stars of British stage and screen turned out to show their respects today to beloved actor Robert Hardy who died in August aged 91.
Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith and Nigel Havers, who all starred alongside Hardy during his illustrious career, were among those pictured attending the memorial service at St Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge, London.
Hardy was described as ‘gruff, elegant, twinkly, and always dignified’ and was known for his role as vet Siegfried Farnon in BBC programme All Creatures Great and Small, which was popular in the Seventies and Eighties.
He was best known to modern audiences as Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter franchise.
In a statement announcing his death on August 3, Hardy’s children, Emma, Justine and Paul, described their father’s life as ‘tremendous’.
He had a career in stage, television and film which spanned more than 70 years.
Sir Michael Gambon (left) and Dame Maggie Smith (right) were among the stars of British stage and screen who turned out to show their respects to beloved actor Robert Hardy who died in August. The trio starred together in the Harry Potter films
Some of the industry’s biggest names paid their respects to actor Robert Hardy (pictured) who died in August aged 91. He is best known for his roles in All Creatures Great and Small and the Harry Potter films
Nigel Havers (pictured) paid his respects to Hardy. The pair appeared alongside each other in TV miniseries Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years. Hardy played the title character while Havers played his son, Randolph Churchill
Dame Sian Phillips (centre) was pictured at the service today. Dame Sian also starred alongside Hardy in Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years. She played Churchill’s wife, Clementine
Former Doctor Who Peter Davison was pictured at the service with his wife, Elizabeth. Davison worked with Hardy on All Creatures Great and Small, which was popular in the Seventies and Eighties
The Queen’s only niece, Lady Sarah Chatto, was also pictured at the service. She is the daughter of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, and is 21st in line to the throne
Sir Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series, attended Hardy’s memorial service in London today
Dame Maggie Smith, pictured here leaving the service, was once described by Hardy as an ‘old friend’. The pair starred together in the Harry Potter film series
Sir Michael Gambon and Robert Hardy starred alongside each other in the Harry Potter film series as well as 1988 thriller Paris by Night