An evening of glittering entertainment at the Royal Albert Hall was marked by a moment of profound human connection, as the Princess of Wales and singer Jessie J shared a heartfelt hug, united by their personal experiences with cancer.
A Royal Evening of Entertainment and Emotion
The Royal Variety Performance on Wednesday was a star-studded affair, attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Held at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, the event featured a diverse lineup, including the West End cast of Paddington The Musical, performances from singers Jessie J and Laufey, and a special medley from Les Misérables to mark its 40th anniversary.
Following the show, the royal couple undertook a warm meet-and-greet with the performers. The Prince congratulated McFly's Tom Fletcher, who composed the score for the Paddington musical, telling him the performance was “fantastic”. The royal's famous sense of humour was on display as he shook hands with Paddington Bear himself, remarking on the bear's signature prop: “Your sandwich looks very nice.”
A Bond Forged Through Shared Experience
The most poignant moment of the evening occurred when the Princess of Wales, elegant in a floor-length green velvet gown, met singer Jessie J. Their conversation culminated in a warm and supportive embrace. Jessie J later revealed the reason behind the emotional gesture, explaining it was prompted by their shared cancer experience.
The “Price Tag” singer underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer in June and has since postponed her autumn tour for a second operation. Speaking about the encounter, Jessie J said, “Mum to mum, who has just recently gone through cancer, I just wanted to give her a hug.” She added that they acknowledged how challenging such a journey is, “especially in the public eye.”
Jessie J's choice of outfit—an oversized black hoodie and trousers—stood out at the black-tie event. She explained it was a deliberate representation of the reality of feeling low, stating, “When you feel depressed and you’re on the sofa, you’re not in a sparkling gown, you’re in sweats... that’s what I wanted to represent.”
Mental Health, Magic, and Musical Tributes
The theme of wellbeing continued in the singer's discussion with Prince William, who invited her to collaborate with his mental health charity work. The prince also enjoyed a lively chat with Sir Stephen Fry about his appearance on Celebrity Traitors, a show William and Kate are known to be fans of.
The evening celebrated multiple milestones. To honour the 50th anniversary of King Charles becoming a member of the Magic Circle, the 2025 Britain's Got Talent winner, magician Harry Moulding, filmed part of his act at Buckingham Palace. Moulding told Kate it was a “dream come true.”
The grand finale featured a cast of 400 performing songs from Les Misérables, during which William was seen laughing good-naturedly at a joke made at his expense from the stage.
Earlier, the Princess was presented with flowers by nine-year-old twins, and she confided that her own children were “very sad” they couldn't attend the adults-only event. The annual Royal Variety Performance, first staged in 1912, raises money for the Royal Variety Charity, which supports entertainment industry workers. The event will be broadcast on ITV in December.
