It could have been a PR disaster for one of our most-cherished stars, but instead it turned into some great coverage for everyone involved.

On Saturday, a parade stopped outside London’s Gielgud Theatre, in which Dame Helen Mirren was playing the Queen in The Audience. Performing in the parade was a group of drummers who were so loud that Mirren said: “I had just spent five or 10 minutes on stage trying to allow the audience to hear what I was saying, which was impossible.” As a result, she left the theatre mid-play, went outside still dressed as the Queen, and told the drummers to be quiet using some very strong language.

There was potential for this to go very wrong for Dame Mirren and as parade organiser Mark McKenzie said, “Not much shocks you on the gay scene – but seeing Helen Mirren dressed as the Queen cussing and swearing and making you stop your parade… that’s a new one.”

However, it seems so far that the aftermath couldn’t have been handled better. Mirren has admitted she was very angry and “steaming” with rage – but she has also said: “if they make the same noise, I would say the same again,” showing that she, at least, felt that she was in the right. Mirren has also been seen in a novelty T-shirt with a slogan that jokes about the incident – “Yes please! Just not outside a theatre!” – and has since invited the drummers to come to see the play. She has also promised to attend one of the group’s charity events.

In the end, Mirren’s impromptu bit of street theatre earned plenty of PR for her play, raised the profile of the drummers and even managed to show that she has a good sense of humour – albeit combined with a slight temper. All in all, just for once, everybody won.

Image of Dame Helen Mirren courtesy of Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com