Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is set to take over from Megan, the Duchess of Sussex, as the royal patron of the National Theatre.
The Times in London is reporting that the Queen is said to be giving Camilla the highly prestigious role in the coming months.
Camilla is well known for being a devoted theatregoer and fan of the arts, and the hope is that her royal patronage will continue to shine a light on the National and the wider UK theatre community at a difficult time for the sector.
The 2020 Olivier Awards saw Camilla give a speech that stressed the importance of the UK entertainment industry, saying that, “I believe in theatre. It’s the cornerstone of a fertile cultural life, a forum for debate and a powerful means of building community. Perhaps more importantly, those of us who believe in the theatre also believe in its resilience. I should like to thank those of you whose profession is in the theatre for your determination and flexibility. Please remain resilient. We need you, and we’ve missed you.”
Previous recent theatre visits the Duchess has made include meeting with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber at the reopening of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, where Frozen The Musical is currently playing, in June 2021; and visiting Soho Theatre in London in December 2020.
Main image: The Prince of Wales, Camilla and Lloyd Webber at the reopening of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, June 2021
