The Royal Variety Performance filled the Royal Albert Hall in November 2025, with Jason Manford hosting before the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Royal Variety Performance, staged for royalty since 1912, filled the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington on Wednesday 19 November 2025. Jason Manford hosted before the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The Royal Variety Charity was founded in 1908 as the Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, to care for people who had spent their working lives on the stage. In 1912 King George V and Queen Mary attended a Royal Command Performance in its aid at the Palace Theatre. The money extended Brinsworth House, its home for elderly entertainers.
In 1921 the King became the charity’s patron and made the show annual. The King holds the patronage today.
The performance still funds Brinsworth House and the charity’s help for people from the profession. Its bill is drawn each year from across British entertainment, for broadcast on ITV.
Westlife, Katherine Jenkins, Jessie J, Laufey and Madness performed, with Harry Moulding, the winner of Britain’s Got Talent. Les Misérables marked its 40th year with Michael Ball and Matt Lucas. Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure joined the cast of Just For One Day, the Live Aid musical, 40 years after the concert it retells.