King Charles arrived at the Royal Variety Performance on Friday night (Image: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
was all smiles as he arrived at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance tonight.
Charles, 76, walked the red carpet alone as the Queen pulled out earlier today because of lingering symptoms from
It marked the first time Charles, 76, has attended the show since becoming patron of the Royal Variety Charity.
Arriving at the Royal Albert Hall to huge cheers, the King made his way inside to the Royal Box where he got a ringside seat to the world’s longest-running entertainment show.
presenting duo Alan Carr and hosted the annual charity event, jampacked with musical performances, comedy and magic.
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The King wore a smart suit with a bow tie (Image: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Sir Elton and his husband, David Furnish, will present a musical number from their new show, The Devil Wears Prada with star Vanessa Williams and its cast, and there will also be a performance from the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.
Other highlights included magic from Penn and Teller and Stephen Mulher, political comic Matt Forde and performances from Cirque Du Soleil and the English National Ballet.
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly will also make an appearance with her Change and Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. They will perform “Love Is All Around”, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection.
The choir is made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, and some surprise special guests.
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King Charles waved to cheering crowds (Image: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
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.
The King and Queen were due to attend the star-studded event together but doctors advised Camilla, 77, that she should prioritise rest. Her Majesty had returned to royal duties this week after falling ill with an infection shortly after returning home from a tour of Australia and Samoa with the King.
But the Queen is understood to have been feeling a little under the weather on Friday so her doctors advised her to stay at home, as medics were mindful of the length and lateness of the event.
Queen Camilla was unable to attend the event with King Charles (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a , 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.”
It is understood Camilla will remain in London on Friday and will then travel to Sandringham for the following week as planned.