Strictly Come Dancing: Prince Charles and Camilla plan to host episode at Buckingham Palace – and they might even dance
PRINCE Charles and wife Camilla plan to host a live episode of Strictly from Buckingham Palace, The Sun can reveal.
The royals made the incredible offer in secret talks with the show’s BBC bosses — and Charles, 73, and Strictly superfan Camilla, 74, may even dance.
The Queen has given her royal blessing for the historic episode to be hosted from the Palace ballroom later this year.
A source said: “Charles and Camilla are very much driving this and the BBC couldn’t quite believe what was being offered.
“Strictly at Buckingham Palace is just TV dreamland. It should be a wonderful spectacle.”
The quarter or semi-finals are being lined up for the historic broadcast later this year — bringing the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year to a spectacular close.
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And Charles, 73, and 74-year-old Camilla - a Strictly superfan - could even mark it with a dance of their own.
Insiders say the show is a perfect fit for the Palace’s massive ballroom - where 112 state banquets have been held in Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.
Another source told The Sun: “The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are, like millions of others, huge fans of Strictly Come Dancing - and so is the Queen.
“So there is a real desire and energy to make this happen. Holding the show at Buckingham Palace’s ballroom would be a wonderful treat as we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year. A lot of work needs to be done to get it over the line.
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“But there is a commitment and sense of goodwill to achieve what would be an unmissable occasion to cap a very special year for the Queen and the nation.
“Camilla and Charles would be delighted and honoured to host Strictly.”
The plans are so sensitive that only a handful of aides and top BBC executives have been involved.
They have identified the quarter or semi in a bid to avoid clashes with the latter stages of the World Cup in Qatar, which runs until December 18.
Productive discussions have also taken place about the logistics of fitting the set of the BBC’s biggest hit into the Palace ballroom, which opened in 1856.
The source added: “The ballroom already has a gallery where musicians play during state banquets. It could be perfect for Dave Arch and his live band.”
In April, Camilla met last year’s Strictly champ, Rose Ayling-Ellis, and revealed she had voted for her.
She told her on a visit to the new EastEnders set: “We were all voting for you, Rose. I don’t know how you did all those dances.”
Asked by Rose, 27, if the Queen also watched it she replied: “I think she does. She probably watched you.”
Strictly co-host Tess Daly said in 2017 her “dream” guest would be Camilla, adding: “We’d love to have her on the show.”
Later that year Camilla was on the Christmas special, dancing with judge Craig Revel Horwood, pro Brendan Cole and The Sun’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards at Buckingham Palace.
In 2020, she recorded two messages for the final — with the nation in the grip of the Covid pandemic.
She said: “I think it’s just lifted our spirits, it’s lifted the whole country’s spirits. I’m very excited, I know who I’ll be voting for.
“I’d like, on behalf of everybody who watches Strictly, to say an enormous thank you to everybody who’s been involved in this production in this particularly difficult year.
“You have given everybody so much pleasure and you’ve uplifted the nation.”
In March, Charles and Camilla joined in with a group of Irish dancers on a visit to a cultural centre in Tipperary.
The Palace ballroom is the largest of the royal residence’s state rooms, at almost 120ft by 60ft.
It was originally known as the Ball and Concert Room and was designed by Queen Victoria for royal entertainments.
In recent years it has hosted state banquets for US Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama. In April 2011 it was also the centrepiece for Prince William and Kate’s glittering wedding dinner.
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One guest described the setting as “absolutely stunning”.
Last night a spokesman for Charles and Camilla declined to comment.
Cam gets into moo-ve
PRINCE Charles marked 70 years of holding the title Duke of Cornwall by visiting the county's annual agricultural show.
The prince, accompanied by his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, toured the Royal Cornwall Show on Friday, and saw dozens of local businesses exhibiting their wares.
On arrival, the royal couple were presented with a harvest jug created by St Ives-based potter Adrian Brough.
The vessel, which was decorated with images of flowers and sheaves of wheat, is traditionally used in Cornwall to carry ale or cider at harvest time.
Charles and Camilla battled through throngs of well-wishers to visit some of the artisan food producers in the main pavilion.
They spoke to Scott Hall, of Cornish Chillies, a company making condiments from its 4,000 UK-grown chilli plants.
Mr Hall told the PA news agency: "Charles was wondering how hot our sauces were, and we said they are anything from mild to super hot.
"Camilla said she wanted to get some for her son (food critic) Tom Parker Bowles."
Elsewhere, Charles and Camilla tried some sparkling cider, which Camilla described as "smooth and refreshing".
Charles declined to try some Cornish Biltong, according to Kerry Rickard, whose family have run their butchery business since the 1960s.
She told PA: "Charles said it might pull his teeth out."
Camilla visited the dog show tent, where different terriers were competing to be named top dog, and went on to admire the blooms in the flower tent.
Charles spent some time with the team managing the Duchy of Cornwall, including young farmers preparing to step into their parents' shoes when they retire.
The duchy's "sustainable stewardship" initiative works with future farmers of its land to work out how it can make changes and improvements to help them survive and reach environmental targets.
Will Kitto, of Higher Coombe Farm near Liskeard, said the prince had discussed their sustainability plans and the current cost-of-living crisis.
The farm has been worked by the same family for three generations.
Mr Kitto said: "Charles was asking about what we are doing to achieve net zero and boost natural capital using sustainable methods of farming."
Asked about the difficulties facing British farmers, he said: "Just making a living is incredibly hard, food has been very cheap for a long time and of course some people can only afford cheap food.
"We need to make sure we can make enough food in this country rather than shipping it from far away, and make sure we do it sustainably."
He added: "But we also have to be financially sustainable and the prices of fuel and fertiliser are going through the roof."
Later in the afternoon, the royal couple were due to watch a parade of British sheep, goats and cows, and hand out trophies to competitors in the livestock contest.
Camilla and Charles were not the only public figures at the Royal Cornwall Show on Friday, as the Prime Minister made a flying visit to the showground on Friday morning.
Boris Johnson visited the cattle tent and sheep tent, and spoke to various traders in the exhibition centre, and also posed for selfies with members of the public.
One member of show staff said Mr Johnson had received a "mixed reception", but added: "I think on balance there was still more cheering than booing."
They added: "I don't think he minded, he's got a hide like a rhinoceros."