Duke and Duchess of Cambridge join stars including Louis Tomlinson at glittering Royal Variety Performance show
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their third child, have arrived at London Palladium
- The annual event is held in aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, of which the Queen is patron
- Younger members of the royal family have increasingly attended the televised show on the monarch's behalf
- The royal couple will tonight watch a stellar line-up of artists including Louis Tomlinson and Seal
- Kate, 35, returned to royal duties in October after battling a severe bout of hyperemesis gravidarum
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined a dazzling array of stars at the Royal Variety Performance show.
Kate burst into fits of giggles tonight as her husband was forced to join in the Royal Variety Performance audience participation.
The Duke gamely took part in a comedy skit from host Miranda Hart, obligingly shouting her catch-phrase 'such fun' on request.
While the Duke performed his part enthusiastically, the Duchess was left in fits of laughter as the spotlight fell on them.
Hart, who said compelling Prince William to participate was on her to-do list for the Royal Variety duties, said she later hoped to see his galloping - another one of her trademarks - and 'knighting me with a lightsaber'.
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Arriving in style: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a dazzling array of stars at the Royal Variety Performance show. Kate, who is four months pregnant with the couple's third child, looked stunning in a crystal-embellished, blue gown
Look radiant in rhinestones like Kate wearing in Jenny Packham
Kate Middleton looked radiant as ever as she arrived at The Royal Variety Performance in London, wearing a floor length bespoke Jenny Packham dress.
Whilst thousands have been waiting for this moment to see the reveal of what The Duchess of Cambridge would wear to this star-studded event, it’s clear to see it was worth the wait.
The brunette beauty showed off her tiny petite frame in a glittering long sleeved gown, which sparkled and shone with each step she took. We are officially in love with this dress and adore this look on Kate, it’s elegant and classic just like her.
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Golden couple: Kate looked elegant as she arrived at the 105th Royal Variety Performance in her floor length blue dress and silver stiletto heels while Will looked dapper in black tie
Beautiful in blue: The Duchess smiled warmly at guests as her husband, the Duke of Cambridge shook hands with attendees
The couple last attended the event in 2014 when Kate, who was then pregnant with Princess Charlotte, showed off her burgeoning bump in a black lace gown from Diane von Furstenberg - a dress also owned by Prince Harry's girlfriend
The Duchess, wearing a sparkling Jenny Packham gown, and Duke, in black tie, went straight into the auditorium in time for the national anthem, and are due to meet performers on stage after the show
The Duchess of Cambridge, who is four months pregnant, looked radiant in her heavily embellished Jenny Packham dress
Hart had kicked off the show with a reference to the Royal guests, singing 'there's no Duchess like show Duchess' during her rendition of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun classic.
She later asked whether the Duke and Duchess, who are expecting their third child, were suffering 'throne envy' after she sat on a grand gold and red seat on stage.
Addressing them in the invented plural of 'Your Royal Highnii', she promised more Royal audience participation to come as the night went on.
And she held true to her words when she convinced Will to participate by shouting her catch-phrase 'such fun' on request.
Kate, who is four months pregnant with the couple's third child, looked stunning in a bespoke Jenny Packham crystal-embellished, full-length blue gown.
Tonight, the royals are watching a stellar line-up of artists including Louis Tomlinson, Paloma Faith, The Killers, The Script and Seal at this evening's gala at the London Palladium.
With 89 shows spanning 105 years, the event is held in aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund of which the Queen is patron.
The couple last attended the event in 2014 when Kate, who was then pregnant with Princess Charlotte, showed off her burgeoning bump in a black lace gown from Diane von Furstenberg - a dress also owned by Prince Harry's girlfriend and rumoured fiancée, Meghan Markle.
Kate beamed at the performance as her husband howled with laughter from their seat in the Royal Box at the theatre
The couple clapped as a variety of performers took to the stage, including Miranda Hart, The Killers and Louis Tomlinson
In the spotlight: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were illuminatd in the Royal Box (right) as they attended the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in central London
Royally funny: Miranda Hart even got the Duke of Cambridge to partake in her comic show at The London Palladium tonight
Musician Tokio Myers pictured performing on stage at the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show in London tonight
Regaling the royal crowd: Musician Tokio Myers performed in front of the great and the good of Britain at the Royal Variety
Lavish evening: The Royal Variety Performance dates back to 1912 when King George V and Queen Mary - William's great-great grandparents - agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre in London
The look of love: The couple seemed to thoroughly enjoy the 105th Royal Variety Performance Show but they still had eyes for each other as they sat in the Royal Box which was festooned with red flowers
The Duchess of Cambridge wore drop diamond earrings, her hair was in curls and her Jenny Packham dress reflected the light
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smiled as they drove through central London to attend the show tonight
Then and now: The couple last attended the event in 2014 when Kate, who was then pregnant with Princess Charlotte, showed off her burgeoning bump in a black lace gown from Diane von Furstenberg (left) but this time she wore blue (right)
Harry, who is tipped to announce his engagement to Miss Markle any day now, attended back in 2015 when he met stars including Elton John and Jack White.
The Royal couple are attending the London Palladium in the Royal box, accompanied by Laurie Mansfield, life president and executive producer of the Royal Variety Charity, and Giles Cooper, chairman and executive producer of the same.
The Royal Variety Performance takes place in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, of which The Queen is Patron.
It dates back to 1912 when King George V and Queen Mary - William's great-great grandparents - agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre in London.
The first installment was in aid of the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund and its proposed plans to build an extension to its Brinsworth House home for elderly entertainers.
A second royal show was performed in July 1919 and billed as a celebration of post-war peace.
It became an annual event at the suggestion of George V in 1921, when the King decreed that 'the monarch or a senior member of the Royal Family, would attend an annual performance, in aid of Brinsworth House and the Royal Variety Charity, once a year thereafter'.
Glittering gala: With 89 shows spanning 105 years, the event is held in aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund of which the Queen is patron
Back in black: Paloma Faith (left) wore an extravagant, structured black dress with a high neck, long sleeves with voluminous feathers forming the base layer if the skirt. Her hair was slicked back in a high ponytail. Louis Tomlinson of One Direction (right) was more casually attired in a black bomber jacket
Joan Collins looked stunning in a pale pink gown, embellished matching shoes with a butterfly motif and a fur-trimmed coat, while Kelsey Kramer arrived in black tie with his blonde-haired partner on his arm
Pop star Louis Tomlinson arrived at the venue in a black Vetements bomber jacket and Addidas tracksuit pants
This was to demonstrate the Royal family's 'love and support for the entertainment industry and its associated charity'.
Today, it is watched by an estimated 152 million viewers worldwide, bringing the cream of international talent to the London stage - making it the most successful and longest running entertainment show in the world.
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.
Traditionally, the Queen has taken it in turns with the Prince of Wales to attend the show, but Harry, William and Kate's repeated attendance is a demonstration of how the younger members of the family are increasingly stepping in to help the Queen in her tenth decade.
Charles and Camilla watched the performance in 2013, while the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh last went in the Diamond Jubilee year of 2012.
Kate, 35, returned to royal duties in October after battling a bout of hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute form of severe morning sickness, which forced the couple to announce their baby news earlier than planned.
Bedbound at Kensington Palace, she was forced to miss Prince George's first day of school at Thomas's Battersea.
A rich royal history stretching back over a century
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'.
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'.
The Queen (later known as the Queen Mother, followed by a young Princess Margaret) at the Royal Variety Performance in 1951, left, and Sarah, Duchess of York attends in 1986
1966 saw the entire English football team take to the stage after their World Cup triumph, and in 1967 Sandie Shaw will be remembered for changing from her stage outfit to meet Her Majesty the Queen, 'A mini is fine on stage, but I am told it would be more elegant to be presented to the Queen in something a little more special!'.
The 2014 Royal Variety Performance returned to the London Palladium and welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their first time; the Duchess being 5 months pregnant with Princess Charlotte.
The show will be remembered for the hilarious anecdotes of host Michael McIntyre who got so enthused by the audience reaction that he ran over by 40 minutes!
Highlights included Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding appearing on the Royal Variety for their first time, the hugely successful One Direction, Britain's Got Talent winners Collabro and the amazing Dame Shirley Bassey who proved that after all these years she is still one of the greatest female singers of all time.
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Her dress is perfection! So gorgeous.
by Gmstrazzante 1038