The Duke of York, Princess Royal and Prince Edward attended a play staged as an early 50th
birthday present for the Prince of Wales by his sons, William and Harry.
Actors Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and Rowan Atkinson, plus Camilla Parker Bowles,
Charles's long-time love, were all present for the event at Highgrove, the prince's Gloucestershire
home.
The teenage princes devised the comedy play, followed by a dinner-dance, for their father as an
early present. He is not 50 until November 14.
Mrs Parker Bowles was among 100 guests at the special "royal performance" at the new Orchard
Room conference centre in the grounds of Highgrove, near Tetbury.
Contrary to reports, the Queen did not attend as she was spending the weekend with her mother
at Sandringham, her Norfolk estate, ahead of the Queen Mother's 98th birthday on Tuesday.
The show was to have been a surprise, until details were published in a Sunday newspaper.
Prince William, 16, and 13-year-old Prince Harry acted in the hour-long Blackadder-style spoof
arranged as a gift for a "man who has everything".
The party was organised, with the help of former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke, during the
young princes' school holidays.
Mr Bean star Atkinson arrived for the event in a black left-hand-drive BMW.
Shortly afterwards Fry and Thompson arrived in a dark green Toyota jeep.
PRINCE William nearly met Camilla Parker Bowles for
the first time more than three months ago. William, then
15, came within minutes of bumping into his father's
lover when he arrived unexpectedly at Highgrove, Prince
Charles's country home.
But it was felt that the encounter was too soon, and
Camilla hastily "disappeared".
A Highgrove source said: "Mrs Parker Bowles had to
slip away before William arrived."
The incident, which set hearts racing at the estate,
came after William rang his father.
The young prince had been at a nearby party and
announced he was dropping in.
But Camilla, who was visiting Charles at the time, had
gone by the time William arrived.
He finally met her for the first time on June 12 at St
James's Palace.
Even that encounter happened by chance.
Eton schoolboy William had travelled to London to see
friends and decided to call in at St James's Palace to
change his clothes.
This time Charles decided that the moment was right to
ask his eldest son if he wanted to meet Camilla. William
agreed. Their 30-minute chat was said to be easy-going
and lighthearted.
William, who was 16 last month, has since met Camilla
on two other occasions.
They "bumped into each other" at St James's and had
tea alone together.
And Charles organised a lunch for the three of them at
York House, his new London residence.
Prince Harry, 13, is expected to meet Camilla soon.
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By JANE KERR
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