Royals Mel Brooks Meets Prince William: 'Comedy's Job Is to Say the Truth in the King's Ear' The comedy legend shared a royal moment with the future king By Phil Boucher Phil Boucher Phil Boucher is an editor at PEOPLE and based in London. People Editorial Guidelines Published on February 13, 2017 12:09 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Getty (2) Mel Brooks has revealed his greatest comedy secret – and it’s surprisingly royal. “Comedy’s job is to say the truth in the king’s ear,” the 90-year-old comic told PEOPLE at the BAFTA awards in London on Sunday. “I think comedy is too PC.” Brooks made no mention about whether he did just that to real-life future king (and academy president) Prince William when collecting a BAFTA Fellowship from the royal dad, who attended the ceremony alongside wife Princess Kate. Yet the experience of meeting the second-in-line still left something of a mark on the man behind such comedy classics as Blazing Saddles, The Producers and Young Frankenstein. “It was actually a bit of a thrill,” Brooks said at the BAFTA after show dinner, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel. “[William] is such a decent, intelligent and caring man. He cares about people and he was so lovely. He’s a wonderful guy. A really wonderful guy. “He wished me well and said, ‘Continue your marvelous career.’ And I said, ‘And continue yours, sir!’ “