Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit the set of Eastenders

Welcome to Albert Sq-heir! Prince Charles giggles with Letitia Dean while Camilla chats to Rose Ayling-Ellis and reveals the Queen watches Strictly as the couple visit the set of EastEnders

• Prince Charles and Camilla visited the set of Eastenders in Elstree, Hertfordshire
• The Prince of Wales, 73, met with cast of popular soap ahead of Platinum Jubilee 
• He was reduced to stitches by Letitia Dean and signed Albert Square plaque 
• Camilla, chatted at length with Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis 

Sadly they didn’t have time for a swift half in the Queen Vic – named after Charles’ great-great-great grandmother.

But the Prince of Wales, 73, and Duchess of Cornwall, 74, still managed to enjoy some good-old Cockney hospitality when they visited the set of BBC’s Eastenders this week.

The future king and queen met stars and crew, with Charles even dashingly taking off his coat to put round the shoulders of a freezing Letitia Dean, who plays long-standing character Sharon Watts.

Meanwhile Camilla, chatted at length with Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis, revealing that not only had she and her family voted for her on the BBC One show, but that the Queen is a fan of the Saturday night programme too.

The Prince of Wales, 73, and Duchess of Cornwall, 74, managed to enjoy some good-old Cockney hospitality when they visited the set of BBC’s Eastenders this week. Pictured with Head of Continuing Drama Kate Oates and Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw

He’s not the first to fall for Sharon’s charms! The Prince of Wales was reduced to stitches by Letitia Dean who plays Sharon Watts on the beloved soap 

A distant relation? Danny Dyer told the Duchess of Cornwall he is 147,000 (in line) to the throne when they met and shook hands 

The royal visitors were guided around Albert Square on the Elstree set before meeting the team who had finished filming an episode in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Deaf actress Ayling-Ellis, who plays Frankie Lewis in the show, presented Camilla with a bouquet of flowers, adding that it was an “honour” to meet the duchess.

Camilla, who was wearing a silk dress and cream coat by Anna Valentine, said: ‘Rose, the Strictly star.

‘I said we were all voting for Rose, I don’t know how you did all those dances.’ 

Ayling-Ellis then asked if the Queen watched Strictly, to which Camilla said: ‘I think she does. She probably watched you.’ 

Camilla also met with a delighted Rose Ayling-Ellis, who captured the hearts of the nation on Strictly Come Dancing last year 

Rose handed the Duchess a lovely bouquet during their meeting, prompting Camilla to reveal that she thinks the Queen watches Strictly 

After the meet-and-greet, the actress said: ‘It was really funny because she’s a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing and she mentioned that she voted for me which is so lovely, and her grandchildren watch it.

‘It is amazing, so lovely. I mean come on, its the Royal family voting for me, sometimes you forget how many people watch the show, I am mind-blown.’ 

A special moment came during a group photograph of the cast and crew alongside the Royals.

Letitia Dean said to the Prince of Wales: ‘You’ve got your coat on, very wise’, which prompted Charles to take his jacket off and place it around her shoulders.

It was laughs all around between Prince Charles, Letitia Dean and Rudolph Walker, left, during the visit  

Letitia and Charles shook hands like old friends. The actress has played Sharron  on the soap since 1985

Rudolph Walker invited Prince Charles on the set of Eastenders when he received his CBE last year 

The chivalrous act was met with a round of applause.

Dean, who appeared in the first episode of the soap in 1985, later told him: ‘Thanks for lending me your coat, it smelt rather lovely.’ She then presented Charles with a street sign of Albert Square covered in cast signatures, alongside Steve McFadden who plays Phil Mitchell.

He told Charles: ‘On behalf of the cast, we hope it hangs on the mantelpiece.’ 

The royal couple were shown around the new set of EastEnders, which was originally due to be finished in 2018.

During the meet-and-greet, Camilla told actress Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale, that she used to watch her on EastEnders when it first aired.

Danny Dyer, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Maddy Hill, second left, seemed delighted to meet the Duchess 

Rose asked Camilla if she Queen watches Strictly. Camilla told her that ‘we were all voting for Rose’ 

Camilla also exchanged a few words with Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell on the show 

Taylforth said: ‘She said we were a lot younger then, and that it’s nice to see the old faces. I said I was in it for 15 years and then left and came back from the dead.

‘She said: ‘I remember Angie and Dirty Den, I’ve got a few more episodes to catch up on,’ and Brian (Conley) said “We’ll get you a box set”.

‘It’s just so exciting, we were all standing around the corner and we were all having fun, laughing and joking and when they said they’re on their way suddenly I said: “My stomach is going right jelly wobbles”. 

‘What a wonderful thing, what a lovely, lovely couple.’ 

The royals seemed in great spirits as they arrived on the show to the meet the Eastenders cast  this week 

Brian Conley, who plays Terry Cant in the soap, was wearing a union jack suit in honour of the Queen’s jubilee.

After speaking with Camilla, he revealed: ‘I explained I am wearing a nylon costume and she said she had handwarmers inside her gloves and didn’t want to shake my hand too hard in case I caught on fire with all the static, which was very funny.

‘It’s not like they dashed in and dashed out, they spent much time here meeting everyone, not just in front of the camera but behind.’ 

Hard man Danny Dyer, who plays Mick Carter in the show, also met Camilla, explaining that he will be exiting the show after nine years.

The Duchess of Cornwall meets, Jane Slaughter, Maddy Hill, Danny Dyer and Rose Ayling-Ellis. The royal couple were in no rush and spent a great deal of time mingling with the cast and chatting 

Dyer straits! Camilla looked in good spirits after chatting to Danny Dyer who told her that his exit storyline when he leaves the soap this year is ‘going to be a big one’, after spending nine years on the show 

‘I used to make movies before moving into soap-land, but I’m leaving this year… Maybe I will come back, who knows,’ he said.

Camilla asked Dyer about his exit storyline, to which he said: ‘Tune in, it’s going to be a big one.’

Later, Dyer admitted he did not speak to Charles about his Who Do You Think You Are episode, which found he was related to royalty.

‘I met Charles before and I dropped it in, he just looked at me strange but I suppose we are related.

‘I am 147,000 (in line) to the throne, not that I’ve googled it,’ he said.

Royally good sports! Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall posef for a group photo witht the cast after meeting show stalwarts such as Gillian Taylforth, Letitia Dean and Steve McFadden 

The royal couple were introduced to the case ahead of a special episode, airing later this year, to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations 

A royal gentleman! The Prince of Wales lends Letitia Dean his coat during a visit to the set of EastEnders at the BBC studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire

‘Very random to see the Royals, you know, up close they were very charming, really chatty, they’ve got mad faces when you’re close.

‘So excited to have them here, meet them and introduce them to the Square.’ 

Actress Kellie Bright, who plays Dyer’s onscreen wife Linda Carter, added: ‘It was just a really special moment.

‘I mean everybody has gone through a pandemic the last few years, it is just a nice thing to be able to do something like this again.’ 

After meeting with Charles, Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, described him as ‘so personable and lovely’.

Tameka Empson, who plays character Kim Fox, added that Charles commented on the feather boa she was wearing, and asked: ‘What happened to the chicken?’

Shona McGarty was wearing a costume when she met the Duchess of Cornwall during this week’s visit 

Other cast members, including Ben Champniss, in black, who has been playing Shrimpy, one of the show’s named extras, since 2014

Actress Miss Dean said: ‘It was a very special day for all at EastEnders. As a company we are all incredibly proud of the show we make but to have a visit from the Royal family makes it all the more special. 

‘To have the opportunity to mark the Queen’s upcoming Platinum Jubilee with a visit from The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall was just beautiful and it will go down in EastEnders history,’ she added.

‘But it was made all the more special for me when The Prince of Wales handed me his coat to keep me warm – what a gentleman, what a couple, what as we say in EastEnders a proper family.’ 

In 2001, the Queen visited soap queen Dame Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell, on the EastEnders set.

The Duchess took the time to exchange pleasantries with members of the crew who seemed a bit starstruck 

Kellie Bright, Steve McFadden and Letitia Dean were seen exchanging a good laugh during the royal visit 

Cast and crew members of the show said it was a special day for the Eastenders family 

Steve McFadden was wearing a tracksuit for the visit. The Duchess of Cornwall opted for a cream coat by Anna Valentine

At the end of the visit, the cast and crew of Eastenders posed for a group picture with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall 

Royal thumb up! Letitia Dean put on a vey animated display as she and Rudolph Walker met with Charles 

Jamie Borthwick, who has been playing Jay Brown on the show since 2006, was dressed as David Bowie during Charles’ visit and got to shake the heir-to-the-throne’s hand 

Ste McFadden and Letitia Dean got Charles to sign the Albert Square plaque, which others visitors have signed before him throughout the years 

A gust of wind ruffled Kellie Bright’s hair as she gave Charles a very warm welcome to the set of the show 

Natalie Cassidy, who was in a nurse’s costume, and Jack Branning actor Scott Maslen, were also among the cast who got to meet the Prince 

Scott Maslen, who plays Jack Branning on the show, vigorously shook the hand of the Prince of Wales 

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