The Earl and Countess of Wessex will attend the Royal Variety Performance this year, their first appearance at one of the year’s most prestigious royal events.
The Royal Variety Charity announced the news, saying that they were thrilled with Edward and Sophie’s attendance and added, “a heartfelt and sincere thanks to Their Royal Highnesses for supporting our crucial fundraising sell-out show on 1st December.”
The Royal Variety Performance is an annual show held towards the end of November or the beginning of December. For years, attendance rotated between Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, King Charles and Queen Camilla (before His Majesty’s accession), the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was the charity’s patron from her accession in 1952; the British monarch has acted as the charity’s sole life patron since 1921 when King George V became its first royal patron.
After attending for the first time in 1921, George V announced that thereafter, “’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 that to demonstrate the Royal Family’s love and support for the entertainment industry and its associated charity.”
The line of life patrons from George V to Charles III is believed to be the longest string of continuous patronage by the British monarchs.
The Royal Variety Performance raises funds for its main charitable arm, which in turn supports “those who’ve worked professionally in the entertainment industry and are in need of help,” according to its official website.
Details on performers for this year’s Royal Variety Performance have not been released yet, though the show will take place at Royal Albert Hall with an after party at the Natural History Museum.
