King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoy ‘secret’ outing to watch play about family betrayal
King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoyed a low-key outing to watch a play about family betrayal at a world-class acting school in London on Wednesday.
The monarch, 75, arrived at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) with his wife, 76, to watch a student-led performance of “House Of Ife” directed by Beru Tessema.
The couple, who have suffered betrayals of their own at the hands of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following a series of tell-all projects, appeared in good spirits as they toured the state-of-the-art facility ahead of the play, performed by third-year acting students in the Gielgud Theatre in the city center.
On RADA’s website, the play is described as a “tense, simmering story” about a family that is “forced to confront the traumas they have long tried to bury” following the death of two family members.
“As the sun beats down on their North London flat, and the authoritarian head of the family arrives from Ethiopia for the funeral, tensions rise, cultures clash and past betrayals are unearthed,” the play’s description reads.
The drama school’s president and “Homeland” alum David Harewood told the Telegraph that the King “really seemed to enjoy” the production.
The play marked the 120th anniversary of the drama school, which has trained leading actors including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston and “The Crown” star Imelda Staunton.
Charles, a theater enthusiast in his own right, was named as the school’s newest patron earlier this month, taking over his late mother Queen Elizabeth II’s post, which she had held for 70 years until her death in 2022.
At one point during his visit, Charles was heard joking around with some of the students.
After being told that the school receives more than 4,000 applications from hopeful prospects, the King was heard joking, “Do you put them through the most horrendous auditions?”
Elsewhere, Camilla shared some fond memories the outing had brought up for her from the past, saying the play reminded her of a “fantastic” night with her grandkids.
“She loved it and she took all her grandkids and they said they had the most incredible night,” Harewood said of the queen.
The royal couple’s outing marked their first major public event since UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak set a general election date.
Sunak’s announcement prompted the royal family to cancel their royal engagements that “may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”
