Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge attended the Royal Variety Performance last night, November 18, at the Palladium Theatre in London. This is the third time William and Kate have attended this event, having previously attended in 2014 and 2017.

Upon arrival, William was presented with the 2019 program, and Kate received a posy of flowers from Brinsworth House’s “Frosty Winter Garden”.

William and Kate then met performers, including the cast of Mary Poppins and a six year old gymnast named Aurelia.

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The Royal Variety Performance is held each year in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, which supports entertainers in the UK who are retired or in ill health. The Royal Variety Charity is a life patronage of the monarch, dating back to 1921 when King George V and Queen Mary became Patrons.

The Royal Variety Performance itself dates back to 1912, when George V and Mary agreed to attend a ‘Royal Command Performance’ at the Palace Theatre in London’s Cambridge Circus in aid of the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (the previous name of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund) and its proposed plans to build an extension to its Home for elderly entertainers, Brinsworth House. The second show was held in 1919 at London’s Coliseum, and was the first to be billed a “Royal Variety Performance”. After George V and Mary became Patrons, the Performance became an annual event.

Kate’s fashion underwhelmed me for this event. She looked fine, but… eh. She’s looked better.

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Kate wore a custom Alexander McQueen black lace gown with long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline, which reminds me of the black lace Temperley that Kate used to love. I actually prefer the Temperley to this one.

Kate’s earrings are Erdem, and… sigh. I dislike Erdem so much.

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William and Kate waved to the crowd and photographers, which is nice, as they have been criticized by photographers in the past for not waving and not giving good shots.