King Charles Attends Royal Variety Performance Solo for the First Time Since Becoming King

The King headed to Royal Albert Hall without wife Queen Camilla, who canceled her appearance at the event just hours before

King Charles has arrived at the Royal Variety Performance — solo!

The King, 76, had been set to attend the annual celebration of performing talent with wife Queen Camilla, but she pulled out a few hours earlier as she has a lingering chest infection.

Earlier on Friday, Nov. 22, Buckingham Palace announced that Camilla wasn't going to join her husband at the event.

"Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritize sufficient rest," the statement from a palace spokesperson said.

"With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance," the statement continued.

It is the first time since Charles took the throne in September 2022 that he has attended the Royal Variety Performance alone. The event, held at Royal Albert Hall, not only provides a festive pre-holidays evening out for the royals but promotes the performing arts sector in Britain and raises money for the Royal Variety Charity, which supports people who have worked professionally in the entertainment industry.

Friday night’s show, which usually airs on ITV in the U.K. December, was hosted by Amanda Holden and talk show star and comedian and Alan Carr.

Included in the show was a number from the new production of Oliver! on London’s West End; a song by Sydnie Christmas, who was the winner of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent; and a song from The Devil Wears Prada show that opened in the West End recently. Magic duo Penn & Teller also performed.

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Charles is expected to meet some of the performers backstage after the show.

One of the key areas that the evening will help raise money for is the Royal Variety Charity's work for those people who have suffered mental health challenges due to the haphazard nature of employment in the entertainment industry.

This year, the charity has established a Mental Health Grants Sub-Committee, which specifically evaluates applications from members facing issues like anxiety, depression, addiction and other mental health difficulties which can be exacerbated by the financial instability and unpredictable nature of employment in the sector.

King Charles attended the show as royal guest of honor 16 times as Prince of Wales. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown performance, Charles sent a video message.

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Last year,  Prince William and Princess Kate attended the annual show and took visiting royals Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel with them. In November 2022, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attended, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also attended in 2018 before they stepped back from royal duties.

It has been a busy week for King Charles, who is still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. He, along with Queen Camilla and Prince William, hosted the reception for London's Diplomatic Corps on Nov. 19, while Queen Camilla also received an honorary doctorate degree on Nov. 20 from the University of London, given to her by none other than her sister-in-law, Princess Anne.