King Charles was seen bursting into laughter at this year’s Royal Variety Show after a comedian made a joke about camping.
The annual fundraising event, which took place on November 22 but was broadcast on ITV last night, saw a string of famous faces take to the stage in front of the King, including Sir Elton John and hosts Amanda Holden and Alan Carr.
But it was Scott Bennett, a stand-up comedian from Yorkshire, who truly grabbed His Majesty’s attention.
Ranting about a recent camping holiday he had been on, Scott spoke of how loud the zips on tents are.
‘It’s three in the morning, it’s pitch black, you’re desperate for the toilet and you’re doing that,’ Scott said while pretending to open a tent and making a rather convincing unzipping noise.
‘And that’s zip number one,’ he quipped.
The cameras then cut to the King, 75, who chortled to himself in the royal box at the Royal Albert Hall.
But the line that really tickled His Majesty’s funny bone was yet to come.
Scott Bennett, a stand-up comedian from Yorkshire, grabbed His Majesty’s attention at this year’s Royal Variety Show with a joke about camping
As Scott made a surprisingly realistic zip noise, the King was seen laughing so much that he folded over in his chair
Scott continued: ‘And don’t get me started on the people who do it slowly.
‘Have you heard these people?
‘They were next to us. Took six hours to leave the tent.’
As Scott repeated his surprisingly realistic zip noise, but this time in comedically timed fragments, the King was seen laughing so much that he folded over in his chair.
The monarch, who attended the event without his wife, Queen Camilla, was delighted with the Royal Variety Show.
As well as thoroughly enjoying Scott’s stand-up routine, Charles was clearly amused during a sketch from political satirist Matt Forde.
The comedian, who is known for his impressions, joked about unfounded claims made by Donald Trump during the recent presidential campaign that illegals immigrants from Haiti were eating locals’ pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield.
Imitating Mr Trump, he said: ‘They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs,’ before turning to look at the royal box and address the King.
King Charles III arrives at the Royal Albert Hall ahead of the event last month
Scott Bennett onstage at the Royal Variety Show which was filmed on November 22
King Charles meets Sir Elton John as he arrives for the Royal Variety Performance
King Charles gushes as he meets with on-screen partners Amanda Holden and Alan Carr – who hosted the night
‘Your Majesty King Charles, you are named after a spaniel – be very careful, they’ll eat you alive.’
The camera spanned to the monarch, who laughed enthusiastically.
Later, the King could be seen greeting an array of guests, from magical act Penn and Teller to extravagantly dressed Scottish presenter Lorraine Kelly.
He also met Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor – who sported an open-mouthed look of amazement as she found herself face-to-face with the monarch.
Camilla, who had been due to attend, was forced to pull out at the last minute after continuing to suffer from some ‘lingering post-viral symptoms’.
The Queen contracted a chest infection after a long haul trip to Australia and Samoa and pulled out a series of engagements, including the Royal Variety Performance and the Gladiator II premiere.
It is understood she was not taken to hospital with pneumonia.
Sources stressed there was no cause for alarm, saying the chest infection had simply left the Queen ‘with significantly diminished reserves of energy’.
At the time, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘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 prioritise sufficient rest.’
King Charles breaks into a smile as he meet magical act Penn Jillette and Teller
King Charles meets Lorraine Kelly, who made an appearance with her Change and Check Choir
Comedian and Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor battles to hide her amazement as she meets Charles
King Charles talks with Stephen Mulhern after the Royal Variety performance
King Charles shares a joke with TV personality Penny Lancaster, who is married to Rod Stewart
The statement continued: ‘With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.’
The Royal Variety Show – a hardy annual event in the Buckingham Palace calendar – is the world’s longest running entertainment show, dating back to 1912.
It supports the Royal Variety Charity which helps members of the entertainment industry in the UK who need help and assistance, including those that have fallen on hard times or need mental health support.
This is the first year that His Majesty has attended as patron of the Royal Variety Charity.
