Queen surprised with scene from favourite play as she hosts Hollywood stars

Telegraph

18-02-2025

The Queen was surprised with a scene from one of her favourite plays when she hosted stars of stage and screen at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen was joined by A-listers including Cate Blanchett, the two-time Oscar winner, Andrew Garfield, the star of the Spider-Man films and We Live In Time, and James Corden, the creator of Gavin and Stacey, at a celebration of the National Theatre.
As guests mingled in the Green Room of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night, the Queen, who is the National Theatre's patron, was interrupted in mid-conversation by the actress Sharon D Clarke, in costume as Lady Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest.
The actress, in character, ushered the Queen to a seat in the Throne Room next door before taking to the stage with Ncuti Gatwa, the star of Doctor Who, as Algernon, and Hugh Skinner as Jack Worthing. Skinner played Prince William in the Channel 4 comedy series The Windsors.
The Queen laughed as she watched them perform the famous scene in which Jack tells Lady Bracknell he was found in a handbag at Victoria Station as a baby.
It concluded with the line 'Shall we go to the Palace?' followed by Jack's angry reply: 'No, I can't abide the Palace.'
The Queen later disclosed that the play was 'one of my favourites' as she met the performers in the Picture Gallery, and joked that she might like to borrow some of Lady Bracknell's extravagant jewellery.
Greeting Sharon D Clarke, she exclaimed: 'Lady Bracknell, herself. Did you enjoy it?'
'I have loved every second of playing Lady Bracknell, it was never something I ever expected to play,' Clarke replied.
'Fantastic, absolutely brilliant,' the Queen told her.
Putting a hand on the Queen's shoulder, Clarke asked, 'It's a play that you love?'
'It's one of my favourites, it's so funny, it really makes me laugh,' the Queen replied. 'You are brilliant at it, you got her spot on.'
Gesturing at the actress's gem-studded sash she said: 'I like all your decorations.'
'You can't nick any of them,' replied Clarke, adding: 'But if you want to fashion yourself like me…'
'I feel I could borrow a few, for a State Dinner. I think it would be just the job,' joked the Queen. 'That's a very big diamond.'
Greeting Gatwa, she said: 'How are you? The last time I saw you, we were recording Twas The Night Before Christmas,' referring to a filmed performance of the poem that she and the King appeared in to support The Actors Benevolent Fund after the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020.
'It was so much fun,' he recalled. 'Thank you for having me back.'
In a speech following the performance, Sir Damon Buffini, the chairman of the National Theatre, told the Queen: 'Thank you so much for letting us invade your home. It's absolutely fantastic that you're our patron. We are, after all, the Royal National Theatre. It means a huge amount to us to have your support.
'We'd like to see you more often. You could drag your other half along as well if you'd like to, we promise it won't be too long.'
'A very lovely occasion'
Earlier, the Queen had been escorted into the reception by Rufus Norris, the National Theatre's outgoing director, whose own speech was interrupted by Sir Simon Russell Beale, the star of House of the Dragon, who performed Hamlet's Speak the Speech monologue.
The Queen was also introduced to Indhu Rubasingham, who will become the National Theatre's first female director and joint chief executive, with its executive director Kate Varah.
The Queen became patron of the National Theatre in 2022. The role was previously held by the Duchess of Sussex, from 2019 to 2021 and prior to that, by Queen Elizabeth II.
As she left the event, she told guests: 'That was a very lovely occasion.'
The National Theatre is fundraising for £125 million to upgrade its Grade II-listed home on London's South Bank, an example of brutalist architecture which in 1998 was likened to a 'nuclear power station' by the then Prince Charles.