The Prince and Princess of Wales attended a star-studded Royal Variety Performance at London's Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday night, where Kate shared an emotional hug with singer Jessie J following their conversation about mutual cancer experiences.
A Night of Royal Entertainment
William and Kate were treated to performances from an impressive lineup including the West End cast of Paddington The Musical and singer-songwriters Jessie J and Laufey. The royal couple appeared in high spirits throughout the evening, which celebrated the entertainment industry and raised funds for the Royal Variety Charity.
Following the show, the Waleses met with Tom Fletcher, the McFly singer who created the music and lyrics for the new Paddington production. Prince William praised the "fantastic" performance before noticing the bear's signature accessory, commenting: "Your sandwich looks very nice" to Paddington himself.
Emotional Connection Between Princess and Performer
The most touching moment of the evening came when Princess Kate, elegant in a floor-length green velvet gown, spoke at length with Jessie J. The singer had performed her new song I'll Never Know Why, inspired by losing a friend to suicide.
Jessie J, who underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer in June and faces a second operation that forced her to delay her autumn tour, explained the significance of their embrace. "Mum to mum, who has just recently gone through cancer, I just wanted to give her a hug," the 37-year-old artist said. "We acknowledged that it's something that is not easy to go through, especially in the public eye."
Fashion With Meaning and Mental Health Discussions
The singer made a deliberate fashion statement at the black-tie event, wearing an oversized black hoodie and trousers that puzzled some guests. She explained: "When you feel depressed and you're on the sofa, you're not in a sparkling gown, you're in sweats and you want the world to swallow you up... that's what I wanted to represent in my own way tonight."
Mental health became a key topic during her conversation with Prince William, who encouraged her to get involved with his charity work on the subject. The discussion highlighted the increasing royal focus on mental health awareness.
The evening also featured lighter moments, including Sir Stephen Fry chatting with William about his recent appearance on Celebrity Traitors. The prince had previously revealed to show creator Stephen Lambert that he and Kate were fans of the programme when Lambert received his OBE.
The show concluded spectacularly with a cast of 400 performing a special medley from Les Miserables to celebrate the musical's 40th anniversary. Prince William showed his good humour by chuckling when Monsieur Thenardier joked during Master Of The House: "Oh no, I thought it was going to be the other fella, the one on the coins."
Earlier in the evening, Kate received flowers from nine-year-old twins Emelia and Olivia Edwards and shared that her children were "very sad" not to attend the show, promising to keep it "a big secret" that she saw the Paddington performers. The annual Royal Variety Performance, supporting entertainment industry workers through the Royal Variety Charity, will be broadcast on ITV in December.
