The Royal Variety Performance was back this week – the first one without Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
It proved a jarring change for some fans at home, who were struck by the change in the National Anthem, which was sung as God Save the King rather than the Queen.
Seated in the royal box were Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
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Eagle-eyed fans were rather distracted by the fact that Edward didn’t appear to join in with the singing, while Sophie could be seen mouthing the words beside him.
Taking to Twitter, one fan asked: “So Twitter why did Sophie the Countess of Wessex sing the national anthem but Edward didn’t? @RoyalVariety”
(Image: Getty Images)
Another viewer branded the move “disgraceful”, writing: “Absolutely disgraceful! Prince Edward not even singing the national anthem!!!” – though another insisted he must have a “valid reason”.
A fourth giggled: “Did Edward think he was King during the National Anthem? Isn’t he supposed to sing too?”
Somebody else pointed out: “Anyone notice that Prince Edward did not sing God Save The King although his wife Sophie did?”
Plenty of other fans, however, were simply loving a night of cabaret with the Royals in attendance, as one wrote: “I love a good royal variety and I LOVE Lee Mack too!
“It’s so strange to see Edward and Sophie representing the Royals, they must be taking over more duties now!”
Another agreed: “So lovely to see The Earl & Countess of Wessex at the Royal Variety esp. after everything they’ve done this year. Sophie & Edward are seriously the best of the Royals.”
Someone else couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at the notion of the Royals wanting to escape the performance each year, quipping: “This is what happens when you lose a game of spin the bottle at Buckingham Palace #PrinceEdward.”
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Hosted by Lee Mack, it was a joy to see comedy and cabaret taking over the stage once again.
Comedian Lee confessed he practiced his gig at a comedy club ahead of the big recording night, explaining to Metro: “Whenever I’m doing a tour or a new stand-up show I always go along to my local comedy club and try out loads of nights there, but of course this is a bit different.
“So, I’ve been to my local comedy club and I literally said to them, ‘This is the Royal Albert Hall, you are a member of the Royal Family and you are in the Royal Box’.”
The Would I Lie to You? star added: “I pointed at people in the audience and gave them all a job and then performed like it was the Royal Variety Performance and tried some things out. It’s the first time I’ve ever turned up at a gig in my suit and a dicky bow.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
