King’s reality check from TV stars...
LOVE Island host Maya Jama tried to recruit a new fan when she asked the King if he watched the show yesterday as she attended a Buckingham Palace garden party.
Maya, 29, told His Majesty, 75: “I host Love Island. I don’t know if you’ve watched it. It’s a reality dating show.”
Laughing, the King quipped: “There’s one born every minute.”
He asked her what she had in the pipeline and she said: “I’m just about to go to Spain to film some young people snog someone.”
Charles was in high spirits as he joined Queen Camilla, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester for the party celebrating the creative industries.
Peppering the throng of 4,000 guests were more than a few famous faces including choreographer Arlene Phillips, comedian Lenny Henry, documentary maker Louis Theroux, Hollywood director Sir Ridley Scott, artist Tracey Emin and model Kate Moss.
It was the fifth engagement in just 48 hours for the King, who continues to have treatment for cancer. Earlier he attended a service of dedication for the Order of the British Empire. On Tuesday he unveiled his new portrait following an investiture at Windsor Castle, while on Monday he was in Hampshire to hand over an Armed Services role to Prince William.
Yesterday Mr Theroux, 53, said he was in such disbelief that he’d been invited he felt it “must have been a mistake”. He added: “It’s illustrious company. It’s a beautiful day in a spectacular garden. I couldn’t tell if [the King] was a fan but I would love to say he is.”
Sir Ridley, 86, said he was “incredibly honoured” to be there. Asked if the King likes his films, he said: “No idea. But they have to watch something don’t they?”
Leaders in the worlds of culture, art, heritage, film, TV, radio and fashion applauded as King Charles and Queen Camilla entered the garden from the palace. Charles wore a grey suit and pink waistcoat with a top hat, and Camilla, 76, who wore the late Queen Elizabeth’s pink diamond flower brooch on her left shoulder, matched Charles’s waistcoat in a palepink, fringed coat dress by Anna Valentine with a Philip Treacy hat. But she told Ms Emin they hadn’t meant to match.
Ms Emin, 60, who has survived bladder cancer, said: “We spoke about health and painting.
Compliment
“He asked me if I was recovering, which I am, and it was lovely to see the Queen, too. I complimented them on their pinks – she said it was unintentional!”
The couple were also introduced
to TV’s Tess Daly and her radio DJ husband Vernon Kay. Tess, 55, said: “He said he liked my dress.”
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene, 80, said: “[Camilla] remembered me from when we last met after I’d been let go from Strictly and she said how much she missed me, which was very kind. She asked me what I’ve been doing and I explained I was doing the choreography for Guys and Dolls. She said she’d taken the grandchildren to see it and they loved it.”
Other guests included Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC, The One Show’s Alex Jones, singer Elaine Paige, model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Vogue UK’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.
Addition
The gathering, supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was in addition to the Sovereign’s Garden Parties, which began last week.