Royal Variety Management

The Royal Variety Charity was honoured to have His Majesty, King Charles III as its Patron.

For over a century, the unwavering support of the Royal Family has been the bedrock of the Royal Variety Charity and our annual fundraiser the Royal Variety Performance.

Entertainers not only lift the mood of the nation, but influence its very heart and what is so often overlooked, is how the majority of those working in the profession are driven solely by passion, with little thought for their future, or long term security. This is something keenly understood by generations of the Royal family and for which we are all eternally grateful.

Her Majesty The Late Queen shared patronage of the charity with HM The Queen Mother until her passing in 2002 and historically the Royal Variety Charity enjoyed dual patronage from the King and Queen (King George V with Queen Mary and King George VI with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

In 2024, King Charles III accpeted Patronage of the Royal Variety Charity, continuing the tradition and demonstrating the Royal Family's continued love and support for the entertainment industry.

For a list of our previous Patrons and details of the Royal Variety's links with Royal Patronage since 1921, please click here.

For up to date news and information on the British Monarchy, please visit the official website at: http://www.royal.gov.uk/

Welcome to the Royal Variety Charity & Royal Variety Performance official site.

It's a real privilege to lead this very special and historic British institution; our staff and unpaid volunteers work tirelessly to help those in need throughout the entertainment industry, both in our care home in Twickenham and indeed all across the UK - they are all truly inspirational people to work with.

I'd like to thank the Members of our Executive Committee, including their elected Officers and Trustees for giving up their valuable time throughout each year and for working so hard for those in need within the entertainment industry.

The Royal Variety Charity has constantly evolved, but has always existed as the entertainment industry 'looking after its own' and this would never have been possible without the unwavering support of continuing generations of our Royal Family. 

The Royal Variety Performance has in recent years gone from strength to strength, consistently attracting the biggest stars from all over the world. Our social media channels such as Facebook are testament to the Royal Variety Show's massive resurgence in popularity, demonstrating the huge appetite that clearly exists in the UK and around the world for this annual, Great British Institution.

The Royal Variety Performance was first staged in London in 1912 to an audience of just 1,300 but last year was broadcast in 63 countries and viewed by a combined television audience of over 152 million - making it the longest running and most successful show in the world.

Lastly, thank you to you, for your interest and support of the Royal Variety Charity. Please donate or buy a ticket if you are able and please get involved in our many fundraising ventures whenever you can. Thank you!

CLICK FOR BIOGRAPHY OF GILES COOPER

Laurie Mansfield holds an honorary role (unelected) with the charity but assists Chairman Giles Cooper with the organisation of the annual Royal Variety Performance and sits on the Board of Trustees.

He is best known as a theatrical agent, famously representing entertainers such as Jimmy Tarbuck, Jim Davidson, Freddie Starr, Des O'Connor and Cilla Black.

He started as a record store salesman for CBS in 1969 and then entered the agency business working for International Artistes in the early seventies.

In April 2010 he formed a new company with his son Peter, called Laurie Mansfield Associates, presenting a combination of both theatrical production and talent representation.