Have a butcher’s at this ... a cameo for the heir in Albert Square
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will make their Albert Square debut to mark the Jubilee
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are to star as themselves in a special episode of EastEnders that features a Platinum Jubilee street party. The couple, pictured above with actors Kellie Bright and Danny Dyer, secretly filmed their scenes during a visit to the set in March. The episode will be broadcast on June 2.
‘For all of us it was an extremely special day that will go down in EastEnders history’
THEY already have the Queen Vic. Soon, they will have a Prince and a Duchess, too.
The residents of Albert Square are to welcome the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to a special episode of EastEnders, as they attend a Platinum Jubilee street party in honour of the Queen.
In an episode filmed under strict conditions of secrecy in March and due to be broadcast at the beginning of the Jubilee bank holiday weekend on June 2, the royal couple will make a cameo star turn as themselves.
They will be seen joining in the fun at a street party, with the EastEnders set decked out in Union flag bunting and banners. Trestle tables were set up with picnic food, with the regular soap cast taking their usual on-screen roles for the royal visit.
The storyline has already been trailed in the programme, with character Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, deciding to throw a Jubilee street party on Albert Square.
A spokesman for the BBC show said forthcoming scenes will “tease some very special guests”, with party-goers due to “get the surprise of their lives as Mick and Linda greet the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and introduce them to the residents of Albert Square”.
The character of Linda Carter, the landlady of the Queen Vic played by Kellie Bright, will host the Prince at the party.
Speaking after the episode was filmed, during a royal visit to the set, Bright said: “I did think what amazing sports that they are just willing to do it. I just thought wow, they’ve never done anything like this before.
“They didn’t really know what to expect, I mean it must have been nerve wracking for them and completely out of their norm. So I just hope they enjoyed it as much as we did.”
Chris Clenshaw, executive producer, added: “We are truly honoured to have both the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall appear in what is set to be one of EastEnders’ most special episodes.
“Linda Carter is naturally in her element and giddy with excitement as their Royal Highnesses arrive in Walford, but it wasn’t just her as for all of us at EastEnders it was an extremely special day that will go down in EastEnders history.”
The forthcoming appearance of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall on EastEnders follows a number of royal cameos.
One of the most famous was that of the Queen playing herself during a spoof James Bond sequence, as part of the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony.
Its director Danny Boyle filmed her issuing orders to Craig in Buckingham Palace for the sequence after palace officials told him: “Her Majesty would like to be in it herself.” It was reported the monarch insisted on saying “good evening, Mr Bond” during the scene.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, enjoyed a cameo role in Friends when she was filmed bumping into Joey (Matt LeBlanc) during the group’s trip to London in the episode The One with Ross’s Wedding.
Her daughter Princess Beatrice had a walk-on part as a lady-in-waiting in the coronation scene of the 2009 film The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt.
In December 2000 Prince Charles made a fleeting appearance in Coronation Street for its 40th anniversary.
The special EastEnders episode is described by the BBC as a “celebratory programme” marking the Jubilee.
It has been kept carefully under wraps until now, although royal-watchers may have guessed a special appearance was in the works after the Prince and Duchess paid their first visit to the set on March 31.
In 2001, the Queen visited Dame Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell, on the fictional Albert Square and was photographed in the Queen Vic pub.
This time, the Prince and Duchess met veteran actors from the show and disclosed they too had watched the soap.
During a meet-and-greet, Camilla told actress Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale, that she used to watch her on EastEnders when it first aired.
“She said, ‘I remember Angie and Dirty Den. I’ve got a few more episodes to catch up on,’” said Taylforth afterwards.
The newest royal members of the cast posed for a group photograph with EastEnders actors and crew to mark the occasion, and went home with a signed Albert Square street sign.
The Platinum Jubilee special will air on Thursday June 2 on BBC One at 7.30pm.