The King of Comedy! William jokes with Miranda Hart as pregnant Kate squeals with laughter in the Royal Box as they join stars at glittering Royal Variety Performance show
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their third child, attended the show in London
Kate burst into fits of giggles when the Duke gamely took part in a comedy skit at the London Palladium
The annual event is held in aid of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, of which the Queen is patron
Younger members of the royal family have increasingly attended the televised show on the monarch’s behalf
The royal couple will tonight watch a stellar line-up of artists including Louis Tomlinson and Seal
Kate, 35, returned to royal duties in October after battling a severe bout of hyperemesis gravidarum
Prince William and Paloma Faith chat intently amdid many performers after the 105th Royal Variety Performance ShowKate and Will stayed to meet performers after the Royal Variety Show, joking and laughing with themWill entertained the entertainers after the show as the royal couple stayed to meet the performers tonightDame Joan Collins, wearing a light pink dress and elaborate diamond jewellery, shared a warm exchange with Prince WilliamWill greeted ex-One Direction member Louis Tomlinson who performed at the Royal Variety Show tonightWill chats to Beverley Knight, Cassidy Janson and Amber Riley at the 105th Royal Variety ShowAdorable Prince William and the star of Annie The Musical at the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show, London PalladiumComedienne Miranda Hartpictures show there were no hard feelings as Will and Kate warmly shook hands withe Miranda and other performers after the show in the London Palladium theatre
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were the surprise stars of tonight’s Royal Variety Performance show, when Will was cajoled into taking part in a comedy sketch by the show’s host, Miranda Hart.
Kate burst into fits of giggles when the Duke gamely took part in a comedy skit, obligingly shouting the catch-phrase ‘such fun’ whenever Hart requested him to from the stage at the London Palladium.
Sitting in the royal box under a spotlight, the Duke performed his part enthusiastically while the Duchess dissolved into fits of laughter.
Hart said that compelling Prince William to participate in the show was on her to-do list for the Royal Variety duties.
Hart had kicked off the show with a reference to the Royal guests, singing ‘there’s no Duchess like show Duchess’ during her rendition of Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun classic.
She later asked whether the Duke and Duchess, who are expecting their third child, were suffering ‘throne envy’ after she sat on a grand gold and red seat on stage.
Prince William chats to actresses Sarah Hadland and Sally Phillips after the show tonight in London PalladiumThe Dame and the Duchess Joan Collins and Kate shake hands after the show, Kate’s bouquet of roses almost matches Joan’s dress perfectlyPrince William meets the Benidorm cast – Jake Canuso, Sherrie Hewson, Tony Maudsley and Janine DuvitskiWaving to the crowds Kate and Will greet enthusiastic guests and onlookers at the Royal Variety Show at London PalladiumWaving to the crowds Kate and Will greet enthusiastic guests and onlookers at the Royal Variety Show at London PalladiumWill gamely takes part in a comedy sketch, led by the show’s host Miranda Hart while Kate giggled next to him while the couple sat under the spotlight in the royal boxCatherine Duchess of Cambridge speaks to Patricia Hodge and Sarah Hadland after the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show at The London PalladiumKate chats to Sarah Hadland, wearing a black and red floral dress and Sally Phillips wearing a pink faux-fur coat and pink hot pink patterned dress after the showKate thanked all the performers after the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show at the The London Palladium
Addressing them in the invented plural of ‘Your Royal Highnii’, she promised more Royal audience participation to come as the night went on.
And she held true to her words when she convinced Will to participate by shouting her catch-phrase ‘such fun’ on request.
Kate, who is four months pregnant with the couple’s third child, looked stunning in a bespoke Jenny Packham crystal-embellished, full-length blue gown.
After their unexpected participation in the show, the couple enjoyed performances by Paloma Faith, The Killers, Louis Tomlinson, Seal and The Script at the London Palladium.
With 89 shows spanning 105 years, the event is held in aid of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund of which the Queen is patron.
Harry, who is tipped to announce his engagement to Miss Markle any day now, attended back in 2015 when he met stars including Elton John and Jack White.
The Royal couple are attending the London Palladium in the Royal box, accompanied by Laurie Mansfield, life president and executive producer of the Royal Variety Charity, and Giles Cooper, chairman and executive producer of the same.
The Royal Variety Performance takes place in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, of which The Queen is Patron.
It dates back to 1912 when King George V and Queen Mary – William’s great-great grandparents – agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre in London.
The first installment was in aid of the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund and its proposed plans to build an extension to its Brinsworth House home for elderly entertainers.
Kate laughs as Patricia Hodge regales her with an anecdote after the show, as Sarah Hadland listens in while smiling warmlyWill complements performers from the dance, physical theatre and circus troupe Circus Abyssinia after the show in LondonPeople smile as Kate greets them and chats enthusiastically with everyone after the show finished tonight in LondonThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were pictured as they left the Royal Variety Performance show tonightThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were pictured as they left the Royal Variety Performance show tonightA glowing princess waved to onlookers as she left the venue tonight, looking picture perfect after a long but enjoyable nightA glowing princess waved to onlookers as she left the venue tonight, looking picture perfect after a long but enjoyable nightAlways time for a joke The royal couple share a private giggle as they walk through the London Palladium after the showThe royal couple enjoyed performances by Louise Tomlinson, The Killers, Seal, Tokio Myers and The Script tonight in London
A second royal show was performed in July 1919 and billed as a celebration of post-war peace.
It became an annual event at the suggestion of George V in 1921, when the King decreed that ‘the monarch or a senior member of the Royal Family, would attend an annual performance, in aid of Brinsworth House and the Royal Variety Charity, once a year thereafter’.
This was to demonstrate the Royal family’s ‘love and support for the entertainment industry and its associated charity’.
Today, it is watched by an estimated 152 million viewers worldwide, bringing the cream of international talent to the London stage – making it the most successful and longest running entertainment show in the world.
The money raised from the show helps hundreds of entertainers throughout the UK, who need help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times.
The royal couple enjoyed performances by Louise Tomlinson, The Killers, Seal, Tokio Myers and The Script tonight in LondonThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a dazzling array of stars at the Royal Variety Performance showThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a dazzling array of stars at the Royal Variety Performance showKate and Will looked elegant and happy as they descended the red carpet at the Royal Palladium in LondonKate and Will looked elegant and happy as they descended the red carpet at the Royal Palladium in LondonKate looked elegant as she arrived at the 105th Royal Variety Performance in her floor length blue dressKate looked elegant as she arrived at the 105th Royal Variety Performance in her floor length blue dressThe Duchess smiled warmly at guests as her husband, the Duke of Cambridge shook hands with attendeesThe Duchess smiled warmly at guests as her husband, the Duke of Cambridge shook hands with attendees
Traditionally, the Queen has taken it in turns with the Prince of Wales to attend the show, but Harry, William and Kate’s repeated attendance is a demonstration of how the younger members of the family are increasingly stepping in to help the Queen in her tenth decade.
Charles and Camilla watched the performance in 2013, while the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh last went in the Diamond Jubilee year of 2012.
Kate, 35, returned to royal duties in October after battling a bout of hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute form of severe morning sickness, which forced the couple to announce their baby news earlier than planned.
Bedbound at Kensington Palace, she was forced to miss Prince George’s first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea.
The couple last attended the event in 2014 when Kate, who was then pregnant with Princess Charlotte, showed off her burgeoning bumpThe couple last attended the event in 2014 when Kate, who was then pregnant with Princess Charlotte, showed off her burgeoning bumpThe Duchess of Cambridge, who is four months pregnant, looked radiant in her heavily embellished Jenny Packham dressKate still looked beautiful as she left the venue and walked towards her waiting chauffeur-driven car in London tonightKate’s growing baby bump was just visible under her embellished blue dress, adorned with beads, sequins and flowersPrince Charming Will waved to adoring onlookers as he left the show tonight with Kate sitting by his side as their chauffeur droveAt the end of the night Kate tucked a strand of hair behind her ear she relaxed in the back seat of the car with Will after the showKate beamed at the performance as her husband howled with laughter from their seat in the Royal Box at the theatreThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were illuminatd in the Royal Box (right) as they attended the Royal Variety PerformanceMiranda Hart even got the Duke of Cambridge to partake in her comic show at The London Palladium tonightMiranda Hart even got the Duke of Cambridge to partake in her comic show at The London Palladium tonightMusician Tokio Myers pictured performing on stage at the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show in London tonightThe couple clapped as a variety of performers took to the stage, including Miranda Hart, The Killers and Louis TomlinsonMusician Tokio Myers performed in front of the great and the good of Britain at the Royal VarietyThe Royal Variety Performance dates back to 1912 when King George V and Queen Mary – William’s great-great grandparentsThe couple seemed to thoroughly enjoy the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show but they still had eyes for each otherThe Duchess of Cambridge wore drop diamond earrings, her hair was in curls and her Jenny Packham dress reflected the lightThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smiled as they drove through central London to attend the show tonightThe couple last attended the event in 2014 when Kate, who was then pregnant with Princess Charlotte,With 89 shows spanning 105 years, the event is held in aid of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund of which the Queen is patronJoan Collins looked stunning in a pale pink gown, embellished matching shoes with a butterfly motifKelsey Kramer arrived in black tie with his blonde-haired partner on his armPop star Louis Tomlinson arrived at the venue in a black Vetements bomber jacket and Addidas tracksuit pants
Source: DAILYMAIL MAILONLINE
Tags: Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, Catherine Duchess, Royals, British Royal Family, Royal Variety Performance, Comedians, Actors, British Awards, Awards Winners.
