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Robin & Rowan celebrate Prince's sixtieth
Sri Carmichael30 Sep 2008
Comedy giants Rowan Atkinson and Robin Williams will return to the British stage for the first time in more than a decade in a televised gala to celebrate Prince Charles's 60th birthday.
Mr Bean and Blackadder star Atkinson last went on a live tour in 1991. Oscar-winning American actor Williams has not done stand-up in Britain for 25 years.
The pair will be treading the boards of New Wimbledon Theatre to raise tens of thousands of pounds for The Prince's Trust, set up by Charles to help young people.
The star-studded line-up for the show, called We Are Most Amused, was being announced by ITV today. Monty Python founder John Cleese has promised to perform an "extra special" skit for Charles and his wife Camilla.
William and Harry will miss out on the evening because of military commitments.
The 1,500 tickets for the event - to be filmed on 12 November, two days before Charles turns 60 - go on sale tomorrow.
The show includes young comedy acts and will be screened later that week on ITV1. Atkinson recently confirmed a return to West End theatre after two decades. He will fulfil a lifelong ambition to play Fagin in Lionel Bart's Oliver! which opens in December.
The ITV comedy gala is part of a weeklong celebration to mark the heir to the throne's birthday.
Two lavish parties - a concert and banquet at Buckingham Palace and a more intimate gathering at the Prince's country residence, Highgrove in Gloucestershire - are being organised with the help of Charles's personal aide Michael Fawcett.
Gordon Brown is among more than 150 dignitaries invited to the evening at the palace on 13 November, which will be hosted by the Queen. Two days later Camilla has arranged for 75 of the Prince's closest friends and family to join them at Highgrove for dinner and dancing.
William and Harry are expected to take their girlfriends Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy to both events.
Palace staff hinted at the Prince's reticence to make too much of a fuss about his 60th birthday. One aide said: "Charles is a bit grumpy about turning 60 and was reluctant to have such high-profile celebrations, but we pointed out that it would be expected he mark the day irrespective of his wishes."
The Prince has agreed to take part in a fly-on-the-wall BBC documentary about his life, to be shown on the week of his birthday. "We advised him others would make programmes marking his life anyway so it was better he was involved to ensure things were presented the way he wanted," the aide added.
Another royal insider said: "He hopes it will provide the opportunity to remind the public about all the good charity work he does. People are quick to criticise him and this celebration of his life could help people warm to him."
• Tickets for We Are Most Amused go on sale at 10.30am tomorrow and cost between £25 and £100. Call 0870 0606646 or visit the New Wimbledon Theatre box office.
