Both William and Victoria, as heirs to their respective Thrones, share a unique bond that positions them well to continue the close relationship between their two royal families and their respective countries. This event is held annually in support of The Royal Variety Charity, of which Queen Elizabeth II serves as a patron. The funds raised from the show provide crucial assistance to numerous entertainers throughout the UK who are facing challenges due to old age, ill health, or difficult circumstances.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have a tradition of being regular Royal guests of honor at the Variety Show, with their last attendance in November 2021. The tradition of Royals attending this theatrical event dates back to King George V in 1921. Following the show, it's expected that Princess Kate, Prince William, and their Swedish counterparts will visit backstage to meet some of the performers.
In 2018, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry also attended this glamorous event in central London. This year's show includes an exclusive 100th-anniversary celebration from Disney Theatrical, as well as performances by British singer Paloma Faith and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.
After Meghan's controversy in Fiji, Crown Princess Victoria took on the role of Goodwill Ambassador, which Meghan Markle had previously held. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in response to Meghan Markle's situation in Fiji. Meghan had resigned from an engagement there, citing mistreatment by staff members, although the UN denied her the position of Goodwill Ambassador.
Princess Victoria now joins a distinguished group of 17 notable figures, including Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, Australian singer and actor Cody Simpson, American musician Bob Weir, American actress Connie Britton, and Brazilian footballer Marta Vieira da Silva, as UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors. UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors play a vital role in raising awareness of crucial development issues, conveying the universal message of human development, and assisting in the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Since 2016, Princess Victoria has actively advocated for the UN's global sustainable development goals. In November 2022, she and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, another UNDP Ambassador, embarked on a trip to Kenya, where they met with local United Nations staff and UNDP representatives at the UN building in Nairobi, the global headquarters of the UN Environment Program (UNEP).
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden embodies all the qualifications necessary to be a UN Ambassador, a position that Meghan Markle had aspired to but wasn't qualified for. Meghan had made various attempts to secure a role in the United Nations, but her efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful. Notably, during her and Prince Harry's visit to Fiji in October 2018, Meghan left the market in Suva, the capital of Fiji, after just 8 minutes, even though it was a planned 15-minute engagement. Her abrupt departure without offering greetings or farewells to the organizers raised eyebrows, as such behavior did not align with the expected conduct of a true Royal representing the Crown.
Royal biographer Robert Lacey has offered a potential explanation, suggesting that Meghan may have harbored resentment against UN Women, the organization responsible for the visit to the market, as they hadn't appointed her as a Goodwill Ambassador during her time as an actress. It has been suggested that Meghan agreed to the engagement only if all UN Women branding was removed.
