King Charles mourns death of 'dear friend'

King Charles has expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the death of his ‘dear friend’ British playwright Tom Stoppard.

Tom Stoppard, who won an Oscar for the screenplay of the 1998 film "Shakespeare In Love", died at the age of 88, United Agents announced on Saturday.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved client and friend, Tom Stoppard, has died peacefully at home in Dorset, surrounded by his family," the talent agency said.

"He will be remembered for his works, for their brilliance and humanity, and for his wit, his irreverence, his generosity of spirit and his profound love of the English language."

King Charles reacted to the sad news by leading the tribute on social media.

The palace, on behalf of King Charles, released a statement to mourn the death of Stoppard.

The monarch’s statement reads: "My wife and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our greatest writers, Sir Tom Stoppard.

“A dear friend who wore his genius lightly, he could, and did, turn his pen to any subject, challenging, moving and inspiring his audiences, borne from his own personal history."

King Charles further said, "We send our most heartfelt sympathy to his beloved family. Let us all take comfort in his immortal line: 'Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else'."

Over a six-decade career, Tom Stoppard wrote for the theatre, TV and radio, as well as film, winning multiple awards.

In 1997 he was knighted for his services to literature.