A string of playful stars left Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in high spirits at the Royal Variety Performance.
The annual event took place at the London Palladium last night, with performances from Robbie Williams and Olly Murs, Torvill and Dean — on roller skates — and a set from Jimmy Carr. Jessie J, who also performed, crouched down to greet youngster Arabella Mansfield, who was chosen to deliver the programme to Charles and Camilla.
The pair had to deal with an unexpected guest in the Royal box when Dame Edna Everage sat down next to them, looked at her ticket and joked: “I’m so sorry, they found me a better seat.”
The evening was hosted by comedian John Bishop — who at one point sported a pair of giant hands.
He told the audience: “Be merry, be happy and no one be beheaded. Obviously if mad Harry was here it would be a different story.”
The event also featured Gary Barlow singing Greatest Day and Let Me Go, hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks and Mary J Blige. Harry Hill gave the audience a preview of his upcoming West End spoof X Factor musical, I Can’t Sing!
The Royal Variety Performance will be shown on ITV, Monday, December 9.
