King Charles leads tributes as Dame Edna star Barry Humphries dies at 89

King Charles last night led tributes to legendary comedian Barry Humphries who died yesterday aged 89.

The ‘true genius’ of stage and screen, who delighted generations with his satirical alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, passed away in St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia, with his close family by his bedside.

In a statement, his family said: ‘He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit.’

Heartfelt tributes to Australian-born Humphries, who had become a national treasure in Britain since arriving here in 1959, poured in from fellow comedians, politicians and the Royal Family – despite the comic taking great pleasure in using his sharp-tongued characters to poke fun at the absurdity of celebrity and authority.

A spokesman for King Charles said the monarch – who was famously left in hysterics when Dame Edna infiltrated the ‘royal box’ during the 2013 Royal Variety Performance – was ‘saddened’ by the news. ‘His Majesty is writing privately to Mr Humphries’ family as we speak,’ the spokesman said.

A spokesman for King Charles said the monarch – who was famously left in hysterics when Dame Edna infiltrated the ‘royal box’ during the 2013 Royal Variety Performance – was ‘saddened’ by the news

‘His Majesty is writing privately to Mr Humphries’ family as we speak,’ the spokesman said

Sir Michael Parkinson, who hosted Humphries on his talk show sofa over the years described him as one of his favourite guests ‘of all time’, as well as a ‘dear friend’.

‘In a time when the word is bandied around far too easily, we have truly lost a genius,’ Sir Michael said. ‘I shall miss him and the dame in equal measure.’

Actress Maureen Lipman, another long-time friend of the comedian, told The Mail on Sunday that he left audiences ‘helpless’ and ‘made us disbelieve our ears and fear for our sanity’. ‘He curled that magenta lip for us,’ she said, referring to Humphries in character as Dame Edna. ‘He lacerated pretentiousness for us. He moved us and “mithered us in mirth.” ’

League Of Gentlemen and Inside No 9 star Reece Shearsmith said he had ‘one of the most fearsomely sharp-witted minds we will ever see. He was always so funny, so sly and so terrifying. It was always a thrill to watch him perform.’

And broadcaster Joan Bakewell said Humphries ‘loved everything that prompted ideas and thought’. ‘He loved art, books, ideas, laughter . . . and he was good at them all,’ she added. Four-times married Humphries, who was also a painter, author and poet, had been readmitted to hospital on Wednesday after suffering complications following hip surgery last month.

The bibliophile, who had an impressive collection of rare books, fell after catching his foot on a rug while reaching for a book.

The absurdity was not lost on Humphries. ‘It was the most ridiculous thing, as all domestic incidents are,’ he said.

He leaves behind fourth wife Lizzie Spender, two sons, two daughters and ten grandchildren.