The King leads tributes to Dame Maggie Smith after Harry Potter star dies at 89

Dame Maggie Smith, known for her roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, has died at 89.

Her children, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said in a statement she died in hospital on Friday, and they were "devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother."

The King and Queen have paid tribute, calling her a "national treasure," adding they would remember "with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances, and her warmth and wit".

Born in Essex in 1934, Dame Maggie became an internationally recognized actress and one of the most versatile, accomplished, and meticulous performers of her generation - winning two acting Oscars, several BAFTAs, and numerous other awards.

She won a new generation of fans as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey and playing Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies.

JK Rowlingsimply tweeted: "Somehow I thought she'd live forever. RIP Dame Maggie Smith."

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