King Charles joins celebs at Royal Variety Performance without Camilla as Queen recovers from chest infection

THE KING beamed as he mingled with A-list celebs at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance this evening.

He was seen laughing with Elton John before sitting down to watch the much anticipated entertainment.

It’s already proven to be a star-studded evening with presenters Amanda Holden and Alan Carr leading the way at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance.

The event will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada – based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film.

Sir Elton John, who is introducing his West End adaptation, told the King: “I’m very happy to be here.”

Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet.

The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill.

Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary.

Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde – who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine.

Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year’s show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow.

The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection.

The King wished “everyone a very enjoyable evening” as the Royal Variety Performance started at the Royal Albert Hall.

In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the King said he was “delighted” to accept the position as patron of the Royal Variety Charity earlier this year, following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

It is the first time Charles has attended the event as patron.

He said in the statement: “The charity’s crucial work in assisting those who have fallen ill, had an accident or hit hard times is as essential now as it ever has been.

“I would like to thank all of those who have worked so hard to stage this year’s production and wish everyone a very enjoyable evening.”

The King seemed amused as he laughed at comedian Matt Forde’s impression of Donald Trump on the stage of the Royal Variety Performance.

During the show, the comedian referenced the unfounded claims Donald Trump repeated during his presidential debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris earlier this year, that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals’ pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield.

Matt 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 to the joke from the royal box of the Royal Albert Hall.

This comes as the Royal received a posy of flowers meant for Camilla from eight-year-old Iris King-Taylor as he arrived at the event on Friday evening.

The flowers were picked from the gardens of the Royal Variety charity’s nursing home Brinsworth House, in Twickenham.

It is the latest high-profile event that Camilla has not been able to attend because of her illness, having also had to miss Remembrance events earlier this month.

The King received the show’s programme from 10-year-old Louie Cooper before taking the stairs up to the royal box in the auditorium.

It comes hours after Camilla insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “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.

The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December.

Money raised from the show will go to 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.