The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dusted off their finery to raise the glamour stakes at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance as they arrived at the London Palladium theatre.
The spectacular show takes place every year, either in London or in a theatre around the United Kingdom, and it’s the third time Kate Middleton and Prince William, both 37, have attended, following their 2014 and 2017 appearances.
Kate looked stunning in a floor-length black lace overlay Alexander McQueen gown and wore her glossy locks in loose curls. The dress had a daring scooped back and a sweetheart neckline.
Meanwhile William continued his recent stylish form with a traditional black tuxedo and placed an affectionate hand on his wife’s back as the couple entered the theatre.
Kate looked stunning in a floor-length black lace overlay Alexander McQueen gown and wore her glossy locks in loose curls while Wills donned a stylish tux
Kate sported a towering pair of black heels underneath her flowing Alexander McQueen gown, which featured sheer sleeves (pictured)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge complimented each other perfectly as they arrived at the star-studded event both wearing black attire
Prince William placed an affectionate hand on his wife’s back as the couple entered the theatre for the performance tonight
The royal couple will greet a number of performers as well as executives from the Royal Variety Charity and ITV, both before and after the show.
The event is in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, formally known as The Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, of which The Queen is Patron.
The money raised from the show helps hundreds of entertainers throughout the UK, who need help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got to meet some of the cast of the new well-received Mary Poppins musical – Petula Clark CBE, Zizi Strallen and Charlie Stemp, who play the Bird Lady, Mary Poppins and Bert respectively.
William asked where they were performing and Zizi told him it was the Prince Edward Theatre, opening this week.
‘We are doing a show tonight,’ she added, explaining how the cast were racing to their performance after opening the variety show.
‘I love Mary Poppins!’ William exclaimed. Petula Clark told Kate she would have to bring the children to the show, to which she replied: ‘They would love it.’
Tonight’s performance is being hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, and will include the cast of Mary Poppins, Lewis Capaldi, Mabel, Robbie Williams, the cast of Come From Away, and a special collaboration by Emeli Sandé and Manchester’s Bee Vocal choir.
All smiles! Prince William and Kate Middleton smiled and waved at the crowds as they arrived at the London Palladium tonight
The event is in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, formally known as The Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, of which The Queen is Patron. Pictured: Kate shakes hands with an official at the event
The royal couple will greet a number of performers as well as executives from the Royal Variety Charity and ITV, both before and after the show
The duchess donned a dramatic pair of gold hoop earrings featuring a pearl drop design. She carried a simple black clutch bag and wore no other jewellery other than her engagement ring
Prince William and his wife Kate smile and engage with fans as they arrived at the London Palladium for a night of entertainment
The duchess is a big fan of designer Alexander McQueen, who designed her stunning wedding dress in 2011
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pictured entering the theatre for tonight’s performance
A programme was presented to William by Oliver Hinton, eight, as he arrived at the Royal Variety Performance this evening
Prince William shakes the hand of eight-year-old Oliver Hinton as he’s handed a copy of the programme for tonight’s performance
Kate was presented with a posy of flowers picked from the garden of the Royal Variety Charity’s residential home in west London, Brinsworth House called ‘Frosty Winter Garden’ by Lydia Jones, 10
Prince William meeting Zizi Strallen (as Mary Poppins), Charlie Stemp (as Bert) and Petula Clark (as Bird Lady) The Royal Variety Performance
Kate greets cast members of Mary Poppins, including Zizi Strallen (as Mary Poppins), Charlie Stemp (as Bert) and Petula Clark (as Bird Lady)
Headline act Sir Rod Stewart was unfortunately forced to pull out at the last minute on ‘strict doctor’s orders’ due to a throat infection.
He tweeted that he was ‘absolutely devastated’ to be unable to perform and described it as an ‘amazing show which I love being part of’.
‘I’m very disappointed that I can’t be there to give my support,’ he said.
Headline act Sir Rod Stewart was unfortunately forced to pull out at the last minute on ‘strict doctor’s orders’ due to a throat infection. He shared the news on Twitter (pictured)
Other celebrities also in attendance included Robbie Williams’ wife Ayda Field, TV presenter Gloria Hunniford and actress Vicki Michelle.
Kate is being presented with a posy of flowers picked from the garden of the Royal Variety Charity’s residential home in west London, Brinsworth House.
This year it is called ‘Frosty Winter Garden’ and is being presented by Lydia Jones, 10, while a programme is being presented to William by Oliver Hinton, eight.
Prince William shakes hands and shares a joke with Julian Bellowes as he arrives at The Royal Variety Performance this evening
Earlier today the duke and duchess shared a series of throwback photographs ahead of the Royal Variety Performance on the Kensington Royal Instagram account.
The couple posted four snaps including a black and white photograph of the Queen arriving for the #RoyalVarietyPerformance in 1952, with The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret.
The other photos include Prince William and Kate attending the event in 2014, where the duchess donned a stunning black lace gown by Diane von Furstenberg while 16 months pregnant.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared four throwback snaps ahead of the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium tonight. Pictured, the Queen arriving for the #RoyalVarietyPerformance in 1952, with The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret
Glowing in a stunning floor length Diane von Furstenberg lace gown, and her hair in a simple up-do, Kate – who was 16 weeks pregnant – showed barely a hint of a baby bump as she and William arrived at the London Palladium back in 2014
Kate, who donned a floor-length powder blue Jenny Packham dress could be seen shaking hands with performers after the show in the London Palladium theatre in 2017
Class act: Dame Joan Collins, wearing a light pink dress and elaborate diamond jewellery, shared a warm exchange with Prince William at the London Palladium in 2017
The third snap shows Kate shaking hands with one of the performers in a floor-length power blue Jenny Packham gown, while a fourth captures a smiley Prince William engaging in conversation with Dame Joan Collins, as Torvill and Dean look on in the background.
Alongside the photos, the caption explains: ‘The money raised from the show helps hundreds of entertainers throughout the UK, who need help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times.’
The origins of the Royal Variety Performance date back to 1912, when King George V and Queen Mary agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre in London, in aid of the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund.
In July 1919, the second Royal show was performed and was the first to be billed a ‘Royal Variety Performance’.
Held at London’s Coliseum, the show was staged as a ‘celebration of peace’ and, as the official announcement expressed it, ‘had been commanded by The King to show his appreciation of the generous manner in which artistes of the variety stage had helped the numerous funds connected with the War’.