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Charles attended the show at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the first time as patron of the Royal Variety charity, following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He arrived alone on Friday evening after Camilla pulled out of the event at the last minute, having been advised by doctors to rest following her recent chest infection.
Show hosts Alan Carr and Amanda Holden expressed gratitude at Charles’ attendance despite his wife’s lingering illness – and enthusiasm at the news their comic numbers on stage made the monarch laugh.
Holden said: “His Majesty was amazingly charming – he said we definitely earned our pound that we got paid. We mentioned Her Majesty and wished her well.
“He did so well to be here. He was really funny – I’ve always said out of everyone he’s got the best sense of humour in the whole of the royal family.”
Carr, who met Charles for the first time after the event, said the King was “really sweet” as he apologised for the Queen’s unexpected absence.
“We also got the goss that he was laughing at some of our bits so we’re very happy” he said.
“If you get a laugh, well – that’s what you’re here for.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said shortly before the show: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest.
“With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.”
A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on’”.
“She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added.
Performers included comedians Scott Bennett, Larry Dean, Ellie Taylor and political comic Matt Forde, whose impression of Donald Trump drew an amused reaction from the King.
The performance saw Forde reference the unfounded claims Mr Trump repeated during his presidential debate with Democrat candidate Kamala Harris that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating pets in the Ohio city of Springfield.
Forde exclaimed in the president-elect’s voice: “They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs!”
He then turned to address Charles from the stage, saying in Mr Trump’s voice: “Your Majesty King Charles, you’re named after a spaniel – be very careful, they’ll eat you alive.”
The King was seen laughing in response from the royal box.
Speaking after the show, Forde said he asked the King: “I hope I haven’t committed treason”, in reference to his onstage quip.
“It turns out I haven’t, I don’t think”, he said.
“He (Charles) said he’d waited 300 years for that joke to be able to be told.”
The night saw performances by Britain’s Got Talent 2024 winner Sydnie Christmas, who sang Imagine Dragons’ Believer, Cirque du Soleil acrobats and musical numbers from Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver!, starring Jack Philpott in the title role.
Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish also presented a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada, based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film, with Vanessa Williams as fearsome fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly.
Money raised by the show will help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.
