In his glittering career of six decades Barry Humphries entertained countless members of the royal family meeting the Queen as early as 1977, Prince – now King – Charles several times and receiving a British OBE for his services to comedy.
But there was one meeting which Charles and Camilla weren’t expecting – and it left the pair in stitches. And Barry Humphries himself was so chuffed at the encounter he posted it to social media.
The legendary comedian, whose personas included Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, died on Saturday night at Sydney’s St Vincent Hospital in Darlinghurst. He was 89.
“He was completely himself until the very end, never losing his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity of spirit,” the Humphries family said in a statement after he passed.
“With over seventy years on the stage, he was an entertainer to his core, touring up until the last year of his life and planning more shows that will sadly never be.
“His audiences were precious to him, and he never took them for granted.”
One of those audiences was in 2013 with the then Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
In his drag persona as Dame Edna Everage, Humphries was one of the artists at the 2013 Royal Variety Performance.
The show – which raised money for charities – is an annual gala of comedy, music and other performers usually presented from London and always in the presence of several members of the royal family.
Naturally, the royals were watching the show from the royal box when, at the 2013 show, Dame Edna bustled in.
Head to toe in scarlet sequins with her trademark wisteria hair and oversized glasses, Dame Edna paid little attention to the royal duo at first until Charles, already laughing, pointed a finger at her to which she blew a kiss back.
Camilla, by this point was beaming as well.
Edna waved to the roaring crowd as she sat next to the couple breaking royal protocol by grasping the duchess’ arm. It’s as if she’s just dropping into see some mates.
By this point, Charles could barely contain himself audibly guffawing as Edna settled in for the rest of the show.
A lackey then walks into the box, taps Dame Edna on the shoulder and whispers into her leading the stars’ face to drop.
“I’m so sorry,” Dame Edna says remorsefully as she rises to her feet as the prince and duchess further lose themselves in giggles.
“They’ve found me a better seat”.
Humphries posed the clip onto his Dame Edna Everage Facebook page in 2019, years after the show.
“Me with Prince Charles and Camilla at the Royal Variety Show. I absolutely ADORE them!”
The clip has been watched 10 million times.
“This is absolutely hilarious, and Charles and Camilla clearly loved it too,” said one commenter.
“Loved this skit. Plus the genuine laughter from the royal couple. They were just as funny by letting down the royal facade,” said another.
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On Saturday evening, UK time, King Charles III isused a statement saying he had been left “saddened” by the showman’s death.
A royal family spokesman told News Corporation: “His Majesty is writing privately to Mr Humphries’ family as we speak.”
Humphries met Charles on multiple other occasions. In 1978, when he was just 30, he met Dame Edna alongside Joan Sutherland at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden; gain in his darg persona at The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala, at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2010 and out of frock and simply as himself at a celebration of British poet John Betjeman in 2006.
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