Prince Harry to see One Direction and Kylie Minogue at Royal Variety Performance
Prince Harry is going to the Royal Variety Performance for the first time where he will watch Sir Elton John, One Direction and Kylie Minogue.
He will see an array of artists tonight including Ricky Martin, The Corrs, Josh Groban and American country singer Kacey Musgraves at the evening gala hosted by Jack Whitehall at the Royal Albert Hall.
Whitehall, who went to the same school as Harry's sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, is the youngest presenter of the star-studded event.
In the past, Whitehall has used his links to Kate and Marlborough College in his performances, telling of his mother's disappointment that he failed to marry the former Miss Middleton.
Sir Elton, one of the biggest solo artists in the world, has been in Las Vegas playing a series of dates in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
One Direction band members Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson are set to split for at least a year in 2016, but their fifth studio album Made In The A.M. is due for global release today.
Speaking about the big gig, Whitehall said last month: "Having been lucky enough to perform for Prince Charles and Prince William in previous years I look forward to the opportunity of sailing a little too close to the wind in the presence of Prince Harry this time round.
"It's my third time on the show and I still am yet to perform in front of the Queen, she must be really desperate not to see my act."
Traditionally, the Queen has taken it in turns with the Prince of Wales to attend the show,.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's attendance last year, and Harry's presence this year, is a demonstration of how the younger members of the family are stepping in to help the Queen.
The Royal Variety Performance takes place every year, either in London or in a theatre around the UK.
The event is in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, formally The Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, of which the Queen is Patron.
The money raised from the show helps hundreds of entertainers throughout the UK, who need help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times.
Its origins date to 1912 when King George V and Queen Mary agreed to attend a Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre in London, in aid of the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund.
In July 1919, the second royal show was performed and was the first to be billed as a Royal Variety Performance.
Held at London's Coliseum, the show was staged as a celebration of peace and, as the official announcement expressed, it "had been commanded by The King to show his appreciation of the generous manner in which artistes of the variety stage had helped the numerous funds connected with the War".
Harry will meet a number of the performers, and the show will be screened on ITV in December.
