During the 2024 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall, the political satirist Matt Forde appeared to amuse the King.
Matt, who is known for his impressions, joked about unfounded claims the US President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly made during the campaign that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals’ pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield.
Imitating Donald Trump, he said: “They’re eating the cats, they’re eating the dogs,” before turning to look at the royal box and address the King.
“Your Majesty King Charles, you are named after a spaniel – be very careful, they’ll eat you alive.”
The camera spanned to the monarch, who laughed enthusiastically.
The pair met backstage after the show and Matt said afterwards: “I thought it would be a waste to impersonate world leaders and not make the use of the head of state.
“But then I didn’t want it to be nasty – Trump obviously allows you to say silly things and get things wrong so that felt like the best way to do it.
“From where I was, I couldn’t see his response.”
When he spoke to the King, the comedian said he asked about the joke and told him: “I hope I haven’t committed treason.
“It turns out I haven’t, I don’t think.
“But he said he waited 300 years for that joke to be told.
“So there you go, I was the one that got to tell it.”
Matt, who recently got the all clear after being treated for cancer at the base of his spine, said “it was a dream” to perform at the Royal Variety show.
“To perform at one of the greatest venues of the world at the most prestigious events in the world is a very special thing,” he said.
“You just want it to go well so when you think it is going well you don’t want it to end.
“This is what you come into performing for, this is what you dream of.”
Moving on to speak about the King, Matt said: “He felt very alert and full of life.”
King Charles arrived at the Royal Variety Performance alone, as Camilla stayed at home on doctors’ orders as she continues to fight a chest infection that has seen her pull out of several royal engagements.
A palace spokesperson said Camilla had been advised by doctors to stay at home and rest as she continues to experience some lingering symptoms.
A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments, and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on’.
“She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon.”
Alan Carr and Amanda Holden hosted the annual charity event, which was jam-packed with musical performances, comedy and magic.
Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, presented a musical number from their new show, The Devil Wears Prada with star Vanessa Williams and its cast, while there was also a performance from the company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.
Other highlights included magic from Penn and Teller and Stephen Muller and performances from Cirque Du Soleil and the English National Ballet.
