King Charles delighted theatregoers on Friday evening when he took his seat near members of the public to watch a sold-out performance of Shakespeare's The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. The monarch was met with cheers from the crowd as he arrived as a surprise guest at the production starring Sir Kenneth Branagh.
Royal Arrival and Greetings
Upon his arrival, the King was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey. Audience members in the dress circle peered down, while those in the stalls captured the moment on their phones as Charles took his seat near the back, between Evans and Harvey. He also sat near Sir Richard Eyre, who directed the performance for the RSC.
Behind the Scenes During Interval
During the interval, the King was handed a drink before meeting the RSC's in-house costume department. He admired a crown used in the company's production of Edward II last year and touched the fabric of a dress worn by Dame Judi Dench in All's Well That Ends Well in 2003. He also marvelled at David Tennant's robe and gown from his role in Richard II in 2013 and a costume worn by Sir Antony Sher in a 1984 production of Richard III. Charles described the costumes as "brilliant."
Patronage and Legacy
Charles has been the patron of the RSC since 2024, following in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who held the patronage since the company's creation in 1961. Sir Kenneth Branagh is playing the role of the exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, for the first time in his career, which includes 35 Shakespeare productions. The Tempest, one of Shakespeare's last plays, is running at the theatre until June 20.
Statements from RSC Directors
Co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: "It was a tremendous honour to welcome His Majesty the King back to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for this landmark production of The Tempest, which marks both Sir Kenneth Branagh's historic return to Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time in over 30 years and Sir Richard Eyre's debut with the company after a long and distinguished career directing for the British stage."
