The Royal Variety Performance will take place again on Friday night, with stars and royalty set to descend upon London‘s Royal Albert Hall for an evening of entertainment.
While it was announced that Queen Camilla will no longer be able to attend as she continues to recover from a chest infection, the show must go on and those performing and presenting at the awards began to arrive in the afternoon for rehearsals.
Christine Lampard led the pack arriving early as she showed up looking stylish in a pair of leather trousers and knee high boots.
The Loose Women star, 45, added to her look with a white blouse and black coat, while she accessorised with a small, boxy handbag.
Penny Lancaster, 53, who is rumoured to be performing in a women’s choir on the night, also looked effortlessly chic as she arrived in a khaki jumpsuit teamed with a tan coat and boots.
Strictly’s Amy Dowden also opted for a tan coat on the evening, layering it over a cream cardigan and black trousers.
Christine Lampard cuts a stylish figure in leather trousers as she led the pack arriving early for Royal Variety Performance rehearsals at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday
Penny Lancaster, 53, who is rumoured to be performing in a women’s choir on the night, also looked effortlessly chic while Strictly’s Amy Dowden also opted for a tan coat on the evening
The annual fundraising event has returned to London‘s Royal Albert Hall and will see a string of famous faces and the winner of Britain’s Got Talent perform in front of King Charles for the 94th annual show.
Queen Camilla, 77, had been due to attend but had to pull out on the advice of her doctors after experiencing ‘lingering’ symptoms.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson 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.
‘With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.’
It is understood that while she is very much ‘on the road to recovery’, these things can take time to fully clear.
Given the length and lateness of tonight’s engagement, she has, sources said, ‘sensibly’ decided to heed medical advice that there is a risk when recovering patients overstretch themselves.
It is understood that she will remain in London tonight but will travel to Sandringham for the week ahead as always planned.
They insisted there was no cause for alarm, describing it as ‘a nasty bug that apparently is going around a bit’.
Amy layered her jacket over a cream cardigan and black trousers with white trainers
Lorraine Kelly is set to make a special appearance on this year’s show with her Change and Check Choir led by iconic singing star Marti Pellow and some surprise special guests
Claire Sweeney wrapped up warm in a brown two-tone fluffy coat layered over a jumpsuit
Coronation Street’s Sally Dynevor wrapped up in a tan coat with a black jumper and jeans
Loose Women’s Charlene White was wrapped up in a navy coat that she paired with flares
Sean Dooley looked in good spirits as he strolled into the theatre
Amanda Holden and her TV husband Alan Carr have teamed up this year to present the highly anticipated show.
The duo have won viewers over in their two documentary series Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Job and Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job, with the latter recently renewed for a third season.
Their hilarious dynamic is a hit with fans, who love the TV personalities separately, but even more so as a pair.
Alan said: ‘I am completely thrilled to be asked back to host the Royal Variety Performance so soon, what a compliment and an honour!
‘To be able to host this magical evening with my best friend and TV wife Amanda Holden is the icing on the cake for me.
‘If I have half as much fun as I did three years ago, well we are all in for a real treat.’
Amanda said: ‘It truly is such an honour to be hosting the Royal Variety Performance this year. I’m still pinching myself!
‘This is a dream job and Alan is a true friend, we are already bursting with ideas and excitement, it’s going to be such a fun night!
‘I’ve worked on Britain’s Got Talent for 18 years and have been so proud watching all our winners perform for the Royal Family.
‘This year will be no different, so in the words of Sydnie Christmas, let’s av it!’
Iyt was announced that Queen Camilla will no longer be able to attend as she continues to recover from a chest infection (pictured on Thursday at a reception for winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition)
The Prince and Princess of Wales attending the Royal Variety Performance in 2023
Sydnie Christmas was the winner of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent and will be accompanied by Dave Arch and The Royal Variety orchestra for her award-winning performance.
Elton John and David Furnish will be singing a number from their brand new musical The Devil Wears Prada, joined by Vanessa Williams and the rest of the cast.
There will also be an exclusive medley from Cameron Mackintosh’s production of the much loved musical Oliver! and a performance from the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical Starlight Express.
This year’s Eurovision winner Nemo, treble Brit Award winner James Bay and disco Queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who will be performing her latest hit and much-loved classic Murder on The Dance Floor, will all be taking to the stage.
America’s world class magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller are flying in especially for the show, plus, presenter and magician Stephen Mulhern will be wowing the Royals with tricks and illusions.
Cirque Du Soleil will perform a world exclusive from their Vegas show ‘Ovo’, and the English National Ballet will perform ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ from their Christmas production of ‘Nutcracker’.
Ellie Taylor of Ted Lasso fame and political comic Matt Forde will present a humorous round up of the year, joined by writer and comic Scott Bennett and Scottish comedian Larry Dean.
Lorraine Kelly is set to make a very special appearance on this year’s show with her Change and Check Choir led by iconic singing star Marti Pellow and some surprise special guests.
Fans will be excited to hear that Amanda Holden and her TV husband Alan Carr are teaming up this year to present the highly anticipated show
Sydnie Christmas was the winner of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent and will be accompanied by Dave Arch and The Royal Variety orchestra for her award winning performance
Cirque Du Soleil will perform a world exclusive from their popular Vegas show ‘Ovo’
The choir, made up of women who detected their breast cancer through Lorraine’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around.
The team behind the smash hit The Play That Goes Wrong will be debuting a sneak preview and the first public performance of their hilarious brand new West End show The Comedy About Spies, which comes to the West End next year.
And American actress and singer Marisha Wallace will perform a show stopping number and also lead this year’s National Anthem accompanied by the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Welsh Guards.
The 2024 Royal Variety Performance will be broadcast on TV over the Christmas and New Year holiday.