Royal Variety Performance viewers found themselves reaching for the tissues this evening as the annual awards honoured the late Queen Elizabeth following her passing in September.
The late monarch, who showed a keen interest in the arts and attended 39 Royal Variety performances, was honoured with a special tribute in this year’s show which was hosted by comedian Lee Mack at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The Queen was honoured by composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, singer Gary Barlow and choirmaster Gareth Malone who were accompanied by members of the London Youth Choir to perform a version of Sing.
Following the emotional performance, viewers took to Twitter to remember the Queen.
"The Queen seemed to always really and truly love this event. So sad that she's not here to enjoy it anymore. She truly is missed," one ITV viewer tweeted.
"Crying my eyes out after that performance for The Queen. God, I still can't believe she's gone," another echoed.
A third added: "Awh, it looked like Gary Barlow was going to cry there. That was an amazing performance and I just know the Queen would have loved it."
"Not me bawling my eyes out while watching the Royal Variety Performance," someone else quipped.
In her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II attended half of the Royal Variety Performances and stayed long after the curtain had been dropped to meet and laugh with individual performers.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II attended her first Royal Variety as monarch.
Following the tribute to Her Majesty, a host of huge stars took to the stage.
The 2022 line-up includes Eurovision star Sam Ryder and pop star Becky Hill, as well as Disco Soul R&B band Nile Rodgers & Chic, Brit Award winner George Ezra and multi-award winner Ellie Goulding.
The cast of the musical Cabaret, who have won seven Olivier Awards, also took to the stage.
Disney’s Broadway musical Newsies performed an extract from the Tony award-winning show, which opens in London later this month, and Cirque Du Soleil acrobats and performers took to the stage with a death-defying display from their latest show Kurios.
Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter performed a duet with Hollywood star Rita Wilson while Frank Skinner, David Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds did a rendition of their hit Three Lions.
The annual event is staged in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, of which the Queen was patron, and money raised from the show helps those people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance.
Since its creation in 1912, the Royal Variety Performance is now watched by over 152 million TV viewers worldwide, making it the most successful and longest running entertainment show in the world.
