The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived on the red carpet for the annual event that is beloved by the royal family
Prince William and Princess Kate have arrived on the red carpet for the annual Royal Variety Performance, just days after Kensington Palace confirmed they would be attending the event that is beloved by the royal family.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at London’s Royal Albert Hall tonight with Kate wearing a figure-hugging dark green velvet gown with off-the-shoulder detail. Kate wore her hair down in her signature loose curls, paired with diamond drop earrings.
William matched in a black velvet suit jacket, which he wore casually unbuttoned with a white dress shirt and bow tie for the star-studded occasion.
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It is the sixth time William and Kate have attended the show, and the first since the princess’s recovery from cancer in 2024. The royal couple will see pop star Jessie J and Grammy award-winning singer Laufey take to the stage for the event, as well as the band Madness, and actor Sir Stephen Fry.
There will also be a performance by the cast of the new Paddington musical, which has been adapted for the West End from the much-loved books by Michael Bond and hit films, with music and lyrics by McFly singer Tom Fletcher.
The musical brings to life the famous bear through a two-person team of James Hameed as remote puppeteer controlling the expressions and delivering the voice, and Arti Shah as the on-stage performer.
In 2017, Kate encountered Paddington when she danced with a costumed figure of the bear at Paddington Station, and met the cast and crew of the Paddington 2 movie.
The late Queen Elizabeth II famously appeared in a comedy sketch with a digitally animated Paddington Bear to mark her Platinum Jubilee, in which she revealed that she kept marmalade sandwiches – Paddington’s favourite treat – in her handbag. When she died in 2022, mourners left Paddington cuddly toys and marmalade sandwiches outside Buckingham Palace in tribute.
Comedian Jason Manford will host the show on Wednesday, while singer-songwriters Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure will introduce a one-off performance from the Live Aid musical Just For One Day.
Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe is showcasing an extract from the musical Kinky Boots, before the grand finale which will see 400 performers, including Michael Ball, Matt Lucas and Katy Secombe, take part in a medley in celebration of the 40th anniversary of award-winning musical Les Miserables.
The Royal Variety Performance is now in its 113th year – having first been performed way back in 1912, with King George V and Queen Mary attending. Each year, royal guests attend and William and Kate are attending this year, having last watched the performance in 2023.
King Charles watched the Royal Variety Performance last year alone as he had been due to attend with Queen Camilla but she was forced to pull out due to a chest infection, which turned out to be viral pneumonia.
