'More voting involved in our win': 'Succession' creator Jesse Armstrong disses King Charles III after bagging Emmy award

Jesse Armstrong joked about how it was a 'big week for successions' after winning the Emmy award for Best Drama Series

PUBLISHED SEP 13, 2022

‘Succession’ creator Jesse Armstrong took a sly jab at King Charles III during his 2022 Emmys speech (Photo by Kevin Winter and Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: British author and producer, Jesse David Armstrong dissed King Charles III while accepting one of the biggest awards of the evening — Best Drama Series at the Emmy 2022 on Monday night, September 12.

“Big week for successions,” the UK native said in front of a star-studded audience at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater. "New king in the UK … for us. Evidently, a little bit more voting involved in our winning than Prince Charles," he continued acknowledging the Television Academy’s votes.

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And that's when Brain Cox chimed in with his own joke, adding: “Keep it, royalist, keep it royalist.” Before thanking members of the cast and crew, while cheers and gasps could still be heard in the room, the 73-year-old Armstrong added, “I’m not saying we’re more legitimate in our position than he is. We’ll leave that up to other people.”

After he was finished with his royal takedown, he then applauded those involved in the success of his HBO series. “We are incredibly grateful to have this honor,” Armstrong said. “This group is extraordinary. It’s a team effort.”

Jesse Armstrong attends the "Succession" European Premiere during the 65th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 15, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, September 8, at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, Charles became the new king. Buckingham Palace announced the news that "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," hours after revealing that the queen had been placed under "medical supervision."

Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she arrives before the Opening of the Flanders' Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks on November 6, 2014 in London, England. — Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she arrives before the Opening of the Flanders' Fields Memorial Garden at Wellington Barracks on November 6, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Stefan Wermuth - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

Although Charles' coronation may not take place for some time, he immediately assumed the throne after his mother’s passing and was officially proclaimed the new monarch on Saturday, September 10.

“It is my most sorrowful duty to announce you to the death of my beloved mother, the queen,” the former Prince of Wales, 73, said while addressing the accession council at St James’s Palace. “I know how deeply you, the entire nation — and I think I may say the whole world — sympathize with me in the irreparable loss we have all suffered.”

King Charles III reacts during his proclamation as King during the accession council on September 10, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. His Majesty The King is proclaimed at the Accession Council in the State Apartments of St James's Palace, London. The Accession Council, attended by Privy Councillors, is divided into two parts. In part I, the Privy Council, without The King present, proclaims the Sovereign and part II where The King holds the first meeting of His Majesty's Privy Council. The Accession Council is followed by the first public reading of the Principal Proclamation read from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James's Palace. The Proclamation is read by the Garter King of Arms, accompanied by the Earl Marshal, other Officers of Arms and the Serjeants-at-Arms. — King King Charles III reacts during his proclamation as King during the accession council on September 10, 2022 in London, United Kingdom (Photo by Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

While the Emmys is an American awards show, it honors creators of all nationalities and subject matters, recognizing "excellence within various areas of television and emerging media." Not only have several Brits like Jesse Armstrong won Emmys for their contributions but the Royal British family has one of the most successful TV series dedicated to it in recent Emmy history. 'The Crown' on Netflix, since it premiered in 2016, has won 21 Emmys in categories including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.