Yesterday evening, Prince Harry attended the Royal Variety Performance on behalf of The Queen, the Prince’s first time at the show.
The gala evening of variety acts is attended by senior members of the Royal Family, and began on 1st July 1912, then known as The Royal Command Performance. The annual event is in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, with money raised going to help entertainers from the UK that need assistance due to old age, illness and hard times.
On his arrival at the Royal Albert Hall, Harry said of the show’s host: “Jack Whitehall makes me nervous.”
Whitehall attended Marlborough College with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as a youngster, and he last year joked she was ‘the one that got away’.
There have been a total of 17 theatres that have staged the 82 Royal Variety Performances over the years. Last year, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended on The Queen’s behalf.
Harry sat down in the Royal Box to watch acts including Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue, One Direction, Ricky Martin, The Corrs, Josh Groban, Kacey Musgraves and Little Mix.
The artists were also very excited. Perrie Edwards of Little Mix said: “We’ve always wanted to do it and now that we’re doing it, I’m really nervous … it’s a big deal, a very big deal.”
Jack Whitehall featured the former Captain Wales in a number of his jokes.
“Yes you’ve served your country with distinction in the British Army. But more importantly than any of that we look at you…you’re the kind of guy on a night out who doesn’t see a shopping trolley, but a ride home,” said Whitehall in his set.
“The kind of guy who sneaks out of the showers, steals everyone’s clothes and lies in wait with a coiled-up towel for any glint of unguarded bottom.
“The kind of guy that when a friend passes out drunk on a night out and everyone around them looses their mind, you’ll be the man who steps up to the situation, takes control and goes: “Go guys. Stand back, I’ve got this. You, get a Sharpie. You, take out a camera phone. You, hand me that razor. Those eyebrows are coming with me!”
“Because yes he may only be a Prince, but when it comes to banter all hail the King.”
“I wasn’t belittling anything you did in the army by the way. That was amazing. What you did in Afghanistan… A ginger guy stepping out in that heat. Wow. First time you get a Victoria Cross for just stepping out of the shade.”
The 31-year-old Prince asked One Direction singer Harry Styles ‘when he’d last had a haircut’ after the show, greeting a line up of acts.
The show will be aired in December on ITV One.
