King Charles was on the phone with Barry Humphries shortly before the comedy legend passed away at age 89 – as the Royal prepares a heartfelt tribute
- King Charles called Barry Humphries
- Dame Edna star passed away soon after
King Charles spoke to Barry Humphries shortly before the legendary comedian passed away at the age of 89.
The Melbourne-born comic genius died Saturday at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney from complications of hip surgery.
Humphries is said to have received a telephone call from King Charles while being treated in hospital.
The legendary comedian had a long-standing friendship with the King – he performed at the then Prince’s trust concert in 2006 – and is also said to have been a favorite of Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.
King Charles spoke to Barry Humphries shortly before the legendary comedian passed away at the age of 89
The King said he was “saddened” by the death of the 89-year-old Australian comedian.
“His Majesty is writing privately to Mr Humphries’ family at this time,” a spokesman for the royal family said. sky news.
One of Humphries’ most famous sketches as his most famous character Dame Edna Everage came at the 2019 Royal Variety Performance in London.
Wearing a sparkly red dress, Dame Edna crashed into the royal box of then-Prince Charles and Camilla, leaving the couple – and the public – in the lurch.
After milking the scene for laughs, a security guard entered the box, tapped the lady on the shoulder, and presented her with a piece of paper containing her actual ticket.
Edna had to leave now, but said to the crowd, “Oh sorry, they found me a better seat.”
The royal family adored Humphries and the admiration was mutual.
In 2008, he said that the person he most admired in the world was Prince Charles because “he does a lot of good work without anyone knowing.”
King Charles particularly liked Humphries’ character Sir Les Patterson; a former Australian minister and cultural attaché.
During one performance, the pair reportedly discussed how much saliva he could produce while in character as Patterson.
“With the gladiolus, I can get them on Camilla’s lap when she’s in the front row of the dressing room,” Humphries said brazenly to the royal family.
Charles asked if there was “some sort of tube in his mouth” to remove the saliva, to which he replied, “No, I produce it myself.”
“It’s really organic. I can spit six rows into the stables.’
The legendary comedian had a long-standing friendship with the King – he performed at the then Prince’s trust concert in 2006 – and is also said to have been a favorite of Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother
Humphries’ heartbroken family, who had been bedridden all week, confirmed the news Saturday night, saying the legendary icon was “himself to the end.”
Humphries tripped over a rug while reaching for a book in February and underwent surgery at St Vincent’s, where he was readmitted this week with family including Spender by his side.
“He was completely himself to the end and never lost his brilliant mind, his unique wit and generosity,” his family said in a statement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: ‘For 89 years, Barry Humphries entertained us with a range of personas from Dame Edna to Sandy Stone.
“But the brightest star in that galaxy was always Barry.
A great wit, satirist, writer and an absolute one-of-kind, he was both gifted and gifted. May he rest in peace.’
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Humphries was “one of the greatest Australians ever” and a “comic genius” who used his characters to say the “otherwise unspeakable”.