King Charles praised as ‘true enthusiast of the theatre’ after he surprised a delighted crowd with his visit to a sold-out production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

King Charles sat at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

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King Charles among theatregoers at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre(Image: Jeff Spicer/PA Wire)

King Charles shocked theatre goers after he unexpectedly arrived at a sold-out show, with the monarch’s reaction to the play revealed.

The King was met with cheers and applause from a crowd at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Tempest at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. King Charles took his seat among excited audience members and watched the play on Friday.

The King was the surprise guest at a production of The Tempest starring Sir Kenneth Branagh and the person sat with the King revealed his thoughts on the play.

King Charles admiring a replica crown

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King Charles admiring a replica crown at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre(Image: Jeff Spicer/PA Wire)

On his arrival, the monarch was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Tim Cox, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey.

Harvey, who sat with King Charles, said he was “laughing away” next to her during the performance. She added: “I think he genuinely enjoyed it.”

Evans said: “When Guy Henry came on, who plays Stephano, he reached over to me and said ‘Is that Guy Henry?’ I was just astonished at his knowledge of actors. You get the impression he’s a true enthusiast of the theatre.”

Excited crowd members were spotted peered down from dress circle seats to catch a glimpse of the King and others in the stalls got out their phone to take a snap.

King Charles III speaks with Sir Kenneth Branagh

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King Charles III speaks with Sir Kenneth Branagh(Image: Getty Images)

During the interval, the King was handed a drink before he met the RSC’s in-house costume department and admired a crown used in the company’s production of Edward II last year.

King Charles also touched the fabric of a dress worn by Dame Judi Dench in All’s Well That Ends Well in 2003, while he marvelled at David Tennant’s robe and gown from his role in Richard II in 2013. He also saw a costume worn by Sir Antony Sher in a 1984 production of Richard III. The King described the costumes as “brilliant”.

The King also gave a standing ovation at the end of the performance. Charles has been the patron of the RSC since 2024, following in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth II – who held the patronage since the company’s creation in 1961.

Sir Kenneth is playing the role of the exiled Duke of Milan, Prospero, for the first time in his career, which has included 35 Shakespeare productions. The Tempest, which was one of the last plays written by Shakespeare, is running at the theatre until June 20.

Evans and Harvey said in a statement: “It was a tremendous honour to welcome His Majesty the King back to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for this landmark production of The Tempest, which marks both Sir Kenneth Branagh’s historic return to Stratford-upon-Avon for the first time in over 30 years and Sir Richard Eyre’s debut with the company after a long and distinguished career directing for the British stage.”

SOURCE: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/kings-reaction-revealed-after-surprises-37196463