Royals watchers including yours truly are breathing a sigh of relief today—if they're picking up what King Charles is putting down. Namely, a man hitting his stride on a high-profile solo outing. It's a big improvement from King Charles's previous public appearance in which he met Denzel Washington on the red carpet—and things didn't go so well.
Buckingham Palace Shares King Charles Footage from Solo Outing—and I Noticed a Major Shift in His Body Language
It's all in the shoulders
Published Nov 23, 2024
•8:30pm
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On Friday, King Charles went to the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance, an event that supports the Royal Variety Charity. (It's a lot of royal nomenclature in one event, okay?) From the minute the monarch arrived wearing a handsome long double-breasted coat over his tux, the King was energetic and lively. First he watched the performance, then hobnobbed with cast members and performers of all ages (he animatedly spent time conversing with a child cast member, for example). Likewise, he matched star wattages (I love to see him bantering and clasping hands with Elton John, as one does). Charles's body language—enthusiastically leaning his head and shoulders forward, taking long confident strides—showed he's come out of the funk of recent awkwardness and possibly is even able to shake off the weight of a year of royal illness. The absolute kicker? He shared broad smiles and laughter with multiple performers.
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Here's Why King Charles Deserves Extra Praise
Charles's peppy showing is especially noteworthy because he was flying solo for the Royal Albert Hall event. That's because Queen Camilla, who was originally scheduled to appear with him, had to cancel at the last moment due to a lingering illness. (Just hours before the show, the Palace issued this announcement: "Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritize sufficient rest.") But the King would not be deterred: He annually attends this festive holiday kickoff event, which is a sort of showcase of British performing arts and raises money for the Royal Variety Charity, an organization to aid professional entertainers.
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Things Are Looking Up
I'm thrilled to see King Charles rebounding nicely from the awkward dead air moments when he recently met the stars of Gladiator II. Hear, hear—three cheers for King Charles, a man who's showing up for God and country with a smile, a jaunty step forward and a renewed mastery of public appearances.
