It is well knowledge that Queen Elizabeth II was an avid arts enthusiast. This was obvious during her recent queen’s Platinum Jubilee, held in June to commemorate her historic 70-year reign; the event featured acclaimed popular musicals from the West End and Broadway, such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Hamilton,” and “The Lion King.”
One of her most famous incidents occurred in 2009, when she and her husband of almost seven decades, Prince Philip, were observed watching the award-winning play “War Horse” on a private outing at the New London Theatre (now the Gillian Lynne Theatre)
Nick Stafford adapted “War Horse,” a play based on Michael Morpurgo’s book of the same name, for the stage.
A scene from the film “War Horse.” Facebook image of Handspring Puppet Company
According to multiple reports, the royal couple was seated shortly after the lights dimmed, with no security or escort in sight.
Few audience members at the West End staging of War Horse noticed the queen in a dark green dress and her husband taking their seats at the head of the circle.
After the performance, when the lights were turned back on, the audience realized that the royal couple was seated among them, and they applauded them.
It appears that this was not an isolated incident. The pair was accustomed to making frequent trips to the theater without being observed.
Their private adventures have included “Crazy for You” in 1993, “Billy Elliot” in 2006, “One Man, Two Guvnors” in 2012, and “My Fair Lady in the West End.”
Reportedly, the Queen was also an avid fan of musicals, notably “Oklahoma!
” and “Annie Get Your Gun.
According to London’s What’s On Stage, the Queen visited the Young Vic, Almeida, National Theatre, and Lyceum Theatre during a one-time tour to London theaters in 1999.
From 1974 through 2019, the Queen served as patron of the National Theatre, overseeing its expansion and productions. Throughout the decades, she was also a devoted fan of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom passed away on Thursday, September 8, at Balmoral, her Scottish palace.
On Monday, September 19, Queen Elizabeth will be put to rest alongside her husband, Prince Philip, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.