The Royal Variety Show took a different twist this year, with the event seeing no members of the Royal Family in attendance.
This is the first time a royal hasn’t attended since it kicked off in 1912, with King George V and Queen Mary attending.
As the world continues to battle the coronavirus, the event moved from the London Palladium to Blackpool’s Opera House.
With guests such as Sheridan Smith, STEPS, Spice Girls star Melanie C and Gary Barlow taking to the stage, viewers at home were certainly treated on Tuesday night.
However, despite attending the event, the royals often become involved in the show, joining in with jokes and meeting the lineup, writes the Mirror Online.
The Royal Variety Show is attended by a senior member of the Royal Family (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Last year saw the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take to the Royal Box at the Palladium and became prime targets for hosts Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan.
Viewers at home claimed the performance in front of William and Catherine was “painful” and praised the couple for grinning and laughing.
Comedian Romesh made a joke about William and Kate’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Viewers were left cringing when Romesh made a joke about William and Catherine (Image: ITV)
He said: “Like me, you’re blessed with three kids. I imagine every morning they come running into your bedroom and you look at their beautiful faces and say, ‘I regret this’.”
In another dig, Rob Beckett went on to say: “Thank you for coming out tonight. You’re on date night. That’s exciting. You got the babysitter until midnight or 1 am? It’s worth that extra 20 quid.”
Despite the Duke and Duchess laughing, many at-home claimed that it was “painfully awful”.
Meghan Markle had an awkward run in with Take That at her first Royal Variety back in 2018 (Image: PA)
While the lineup for the night is often made up of household names in the UK, it became apparent that not all members of the Mountbatten-Windsor family are clued up on British showbiz.
Marking her first time attending the event in 2018, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex met Take That.
The group who found fame in 1990 have sold over 45 million records but were left redfaced after meeting Meghan.
Upon arrival, Meghan said to the group: “Well, break a leg tonight.”
Jack Whitehall dropped the almighty bombshell in 2014 that the Duchess of Cambridge was his first crush at school (Image: TV Grab)
To which lead singer Gary Barlow replied: “Enjoy the evening.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you perform,” she said.
She went on to ask: “You’re opening and closing, is that right? Fantastic. So, lucky us.”
Jack Whitehall also left viewers and the audience stunned when he came face to face with former school pal Catherine, back in 2014.
The pair attended the prestigious Marlborough College and while Kate may have been older than Jack, he dropped an almighty bombshell.
“I was a bit younger than you, but this is the first time I’ve seen you since school, so hello,” he said while gazing towards the Royal Box.
He added: “I don’t know whether it’s appropriate given the circumstances but you were probably my first ever crush. Okay, definitely inappropriate. Your Highness is giving me a sharp look.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
