Kate couldn’t stop giggling as Bradley Walsh opened the Royal Variety Performance show with an awkward joke about being snubbed for an MBE and OBE at the star-studded show.
The show’s host Mr Walsh opened the event with a few jokes, one of which was about him not being included on the King’s honours list.
Addressing Prince William, he said: ‘I have worked for your greatnan, your nan, your granddad, your dad, and now I’m working for your Sir and Madam.
‘And I must say – ask me if I’ve got an MBE. Nah, ain’t got one. Ask me if I’ve got an OBE – nah, ain’t got one of them. Ask me if I’ve got a CBE – no!’
He went on to say ‘they’ve probably run out’ of those honours because ‘they give them all to people who row boats’ and ‘people on telly who bake cakes’.
Mr Walsh said he ‘entertained troops in the Falklands’ and was ‘happy to make it out alive’ while others got commended for their ‘victoria sponge’ cakes.
Kate couldn’t stop giggling as Bradley Walsh opened the Royal Variety Performance show with an awkward joke about being snubbed for an MBE and OBE at the star-studded show
William and Kate entered the event with beaming smiles (pictured) before they settled into the balcony with the Swedish royals
Mr Walsh’s (pictured) awkward joke started with him greeting the ‘royal highness, or royal highnesses’, with him pretending to stumble over the word several times
He also told an anecdote of meeting his two-year-old grandson, who he ‘promised’ that he would ask Prince William for knighthood so the little boy could use the his grandfather’s title during ‘show-and-tell’ in nursery.
Earlier Mr Walsh had greeted the ‘royal highnesses’, with the camera switching to William and Kate as they laughed away.
He pretended to stumble over the word ‘highnesses’ several times. ‘It doesn’t sound right, your royal highnessesses? There’s too many “ssessess”, innit? Your royal highness… your royal highnessesses?,’ he said.
‘It should be like cactus, cactussess, cacti. Your royal highness, highnessess and highni. That’s it. I’ve got it. Your royal highni.’ Meanwhile Kate and William were seen laughing at the awkward joke.
People on X, formerly known as Twitter, branded his opening sketch ‘cringe-worthy’ and ‘boring’.
One user said: ‘Bradley Walsh completely embarrassing at the beginning not funny at all begging to be given a cbe obe etc.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales stood up for the national anthem God Save the King
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive to attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London yesterday
The show was opened with an amazing rendition of God Save the King by Samantha Barks
William says farewell to Princess Victoria of Sweden after watching the show together
The Prince and Princess of Wales laugh with Paloma Faith during the evening at the Royal Albert Hall
The Prince and Princess of Wales applaud during the Royal Variety Performance
The Princess of Wales waves in her striking blue dress as she steps out alongside Prince William at the show in London
The Princess of Wales beamed and looked effortlessly elegant as she attended the event
William and Kate appeared to put drama behind them as they headed home looking like they’d had a great evening
Another added: ‘Bradley Walsh’s just not funny! Cringe-worthy start to show. Think he’s just gone to back of the list #RoyalVariety.’
This notion was echoed by another user who commented: ‘Agreed, normally love Bradley Walsh, but begging for gong is embarrassing.’
‘Bradley Walsh. Stand-up comedy isn’t for you,’ a third urged.
One user also wrote: ‘What a bore Bradley Walsh is.’
Real tears of laughter were shed during Tom Allen’s performance, when Prince William wiped away tears during the hilarious stand-up act at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Princess and Prince of Wales attended the event at the Royal Albert Hall with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel, who were in the UK on an official visit.
The event, which was filmed on November 30, is in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, which supports members of the entertainment industry with a nationwide grants scheme, to help those who’ve worked professionally in the entertainment industry during this very difficult economic climate.
William and Kate entered the event with beaming smiles before they settled into the balcony with the Swedish royals while the crowd was giving them a standing ovation.
Kate wore a show-stopping gown which featured flared sleeves and statement shoulders, plus a gem-encrusted high-neck.
The Prince of Wales talking to a Cher who was among the stars at the Royal Albert Hall last night
The Prince and Princess of Wales shake hands with members of McFly during the Royal Variety Performance
The couple share a joke with Hannah Waddingham during the Royal Variety Performance
Prince William speaks to Rick Astley at last night’s glamorous evening event at the Royal Albert Hall
She donned a chunky gem bracelet with matching earrings, carried a sparkling clutch bag and wore her thick brunette locks in bouncy curls.
Meanwhile Prince William looked sharp in a black tuxedo, and he acted as the perfect gentleman as he held out his hand for his wife as they took to the red carpet.
On arrival they met ITV executives before being introduced to Daphne Selfe, who at 95 is the world’s oldest supermodel.
Excited crowds gathered outside the hall to peer through the windows for the royal arrival.
Speaking to Ms Selfe, Prince William said: ‘You’re modelling at 95, that is incredible,’ before adding: ‘They don’t make you travel about too much do they?’
The Prince of Wales meeting Bradley Walsh during the Royal Variety Performance
The Prince and Princess of Wales beamed as they arrived at the venue
The Prince and Princess of Wales put on a business-as-usual attitude as they attended the Royal Variety Performance 2023
The Prince of Wales looked smart in a tuxedo with a black velvet jacket and a bow tie at the event
The British royals and their Swedish counterparts stood for a rendition of God Save the King, perofrmed by Samantha Barks
The royal couple appeared impressed by the performances as they watched on from the royal box
As she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall, the Princess of Wales was presented with a bunch of flowers
Kate smiled as she accepted the flowers, presented to her by a young girl in a pretty burgundy dress
The Princess of Wales told Ms Selfe that she ‘loved’ her dress, which had red feather tassel sleeves, to which she replied that Kate was very tall.
The Princess then joked: ‘I’m quite tall and I have high heels on, so I’m cheating.’
Prince William added: ‘I don’t have high heels on.’
The Princess of Wales and the Princess of Sweden were then presented with floral bouquets made from English & Swedish national flowers.
Before the performance started Prince and Princess of Wales were welcomed in the royal box with a rendition of ‘God Save the King’ performed by West End star Samantha Barks, who plays Elsa in the musical Frozen.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden also gracefully accepted a posy of flowers as she arrived at the performance
Crown Princess Victoria was dressed in a black feathered frock from Swedish brand Toteme, while her husband Prince Daniel was dapper in a tuxedo
The Swedish royals stood in the foyer of the Royal Albert Hall ahead of the 2023 performance, on their visit to the UK
Following Samantha’s performance, who is currently playing Elsa in Frozen on the West end, the royals applauded
Ahead of the performance Prince William greeted Daphne Selfe, a 95-year-old supermodel
William appeared to share a comical moment with the model, who has been photographed bu David Bailey and appeared in the pages of Vogue during her career
Kate looked effortlessly elegant as she arrived at the Royal Variety Performance in a teal gown from Safiyaa
Bradley Walsh, who hosted the show, said it was ‘an honour’ to serve the monarchy and present the Royal Variety Performance – but joked that he would be grateful for a CBE.
There was also a brief appearance from Simon Cowell, who came on stage wearing Bono-esque yellow-tinted glasses for his ‘terrible eyesight’ to introduce Britain’s Got Talent winner Viggo Venn.
The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared to particularly enjoy a sketch from West End magician Simon Lipkin, where Bradley Walsh played the role of a servant.
Pointing at Their Highnesses Mr Walsh said: ‘If I don’t get a knighthood after this there’s no justice,’ causing the Prince and Princess to laugh together.
After the show Their Highnesses met performers including Cher, who had performed her new Christmas single, DJ Play a Christmas Song. Prince William said: ‘It’s an energetic song isn’t it!’
Their royal highnesses also met with Vicki Michelle ahead of the performance, who is best known for her role as Yvette Carte-Blanche in ‘Allo ‘Allo
The royal couple beamed as they stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet ahead of a night of entertainment
Windswept Kate! The Princess of Wales looked elegant amid a gust of wind that blew her hair up
Kate, 41, opted for natural make-up with a touch of eyeliner, a nude lip, some blusher and bronzer
Kate stunned as she debuted the gown which featured statement shoulders and flared sleeves
The couple shared a sweet moment as William held out his hand for Kate
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel were the guests of Kate and William yesterday evening
The Prince of Wales took his wife’s hand as they walked along the red carpet into the Royal Albert Hall
Kate looked elegant despite what was likely a bitterly cold gust of wind as she braved freezing temperatures
They then spoke to performers including McFly, Mel C and Paloma Faith. Faith, who was still barefoot from her performance, said the Prince and Princess of Wales were ‘really nice and very relaxed’.
She added: ‘They said they didn’t mind that I wasn’t wearing shoes as I seemed more comfortable that way. They just put you at ease, which is a real skill.’
Among those performing at the show were Rick Astley, McFly, BGT winner Viggo Venn and Cher. There was also a celebration of Disney’s centenary and a tribute to theatre impresario Bill Kenwright.
Femail Fashion Verdict: Show-stopper Princess, classy in a cape
By Alice Hare
As her gallant prince took her by the hand, the Princess of Wales stepped out in a show-stopper cerulean gown with dramatic, flowing cape-style sleeves for the Royal Variety Performance last night.
It was the perfect choice for a sub-zero night in the capital. Kate’s dress, by London brand Safiyaa and costing £1,545, boasted shoulder pads and a bespoke bejewelled neckline to amp up the drama.
A £445 twinkling Jenny Packham clutch bag, dazzling diamond and sapphire bracelet and matching blue heels completed the red carpet look, with her glossy mane free in the occasionally gusty evening air. Incidentally, the Duchess of Sussex knows the power of a cape dress, too, having worn a red creation – again by Safiyaa and also to the Royal Albert Hall – for her last royal engagement in March 2020.
Somehow, the dramatic impact of a cape never verges into ostentation: it is unfailingly chic.
Ever the gentleman, Pricne William took Kate’s hand as she walked onto the red carpet to enter the Royal Albert Hall
The Princess of Wales stunned in a teal gown with flared sleeves as she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance this evening