Royal Film Performance

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The Royal Film Performance is a trademarked event owned by The Film and Television Charity, [1] formerly known as the Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund CTBF (from 1964 to 2017) and previously the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund (from its inception in 1924). [2] The event showcases a major film premiere and is attended by members of the British Royal Family. The proceeds from the event help the charity to offer financial support to people from the film, TV and cinema industries.

The event began in 1946, as the Royal Command Film Performance, with a screening of A Matter of Life and Death . The charity first received Royal Patronage in 1936, and so the idea of a Royal screening was born. The original date of the first event was 18 October 1939 and it was to be called the Royal Cine-Variety Performance, but it was postponed due to the outbreak of World War II.

The "Royal Command" name was changed from 1949, to Royal Film Performance, on the basis that the choice of film was that of the CTBF rather than the Royal Family. [3] There was no performance between 2015 and 2019 while the CTBF was reformed as The Film and Television Charity. [4] There was no event in 2020 or 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The most recent Royal Film Performance was the global premiere of Ridley Scott's Gladiator II at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on 13 November 2024. The event was attended by His Majesty King Charles III. Queen Camilla planned to attend with the King but ultimately cancelled due to a chest infection.

History of events

NumberDateTitleVenueAttendees
7213 November 2024 Gladiator II [5] Odeon Luxe Leicester Square [6] Charles III [7]
7119 May 2022 [8] Top Gun: Maverick Odeon Luxe Leicester Square William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge [9]
704 December 2019 1917 Odeon Luxe Leicester Square [10] Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall [11]
6926 October 2015 Spectre Royal Albert Hall [12] William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry [13]
6817 February 2015 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Odeon Leicester Square [14] [15] Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall [16]
675 December 2013 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Odeon Leicester Square [17] William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge [18]
6612 December 2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Odeon Leicester Square [19] William, Duke of Cambridge [20]
6528 November 2011 Hugo Odeon Leicester Square [21] Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall [22]
6430 November 2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader [23] Odeon Leicester Square Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [24]
6324 November 2009 The Lovely Bones [25] [26] Odeon Leicester Square Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall [27]
6217 November 2008 A Bunch of Amateurs Odeon Leicester Square [28] Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [29]
6119 February 2008 The Other Boleyn Girl Odeon Leicester Square [30] Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall [31]
6014 November 2006 Casino Royale Odeon Leicester Square [32] Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [33]
597 December 2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Royal Albert Hall [34] Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall [35]
588 November 2004 Ladies in Lavender Odeon Leicester Square Elizabeth II [36]
5717 November 2003 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Charles, Prince of Wales [37]
5618 November 2002 Die Another Day [38] Royal Albert Hall [39] Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [40]
552001 Ali Charles, Prince of Wales [41]
542000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Elizabeth II [42]
5314 July 1999 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Odeon Leicester Square [43] Charles, Prince of Wales [44]
521998 The Parent Trap Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [45] [46]
511997 Titanic Charles, Prince of Wales [47]
501996 True Blue
491995 French Kiss
481994 Miracle on 34th Street Odeon Leicester Square Elizabeth II [48]
471993 The Man Without a Face
461992 Chaplin
451991 Hot Shots!
441990 Always
431989 Madame Sousatzka Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
421988 Empire of the Sun
411987 84 Charing Cross Road Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales
401986 White Nights
391985 A Passage to India Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Charles, Prince of Wales, Diana, Princess of Wales and Princess Anne
381984 The Dresser Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
371983 Table for Five
361982 Evil Under the Sun Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
351981 Chariots of Fire Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
341980 Kramer vs. Kramer Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
331979 California Suite Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
321978 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
3130 March 1977 Silver Streak Odeon Leicester Square [49] [50] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Princess Alexandra
3024 March 1976 The Slipper and the Rose Odeon Leicester Square [51] [52] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Alexandra
2917 March 1975 Funny Lady Odeon Leicester Square [53] [54] Elizabeth II
2825 March 1974 The Three Musketeers Odeon Leicester Square [55] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
2726 March 1973 Lost Horizon Odeon Leicester Square [56] Elizabeth II
2627 March 1972 Mary, Queen of Scots Odeon Leicester Square [57] [58] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Earl of Snowdon
258 March 1971 Love Story Odeon Leicester Square [59] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Prince William of Gloucester
2423 February 1970 Anne of the Thousand Days Odeon Leicester Square [60]
2324 February 1969 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Odeon Leicester Square [61] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Earl of Snowdon, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent
224 March 1968 Romeo and Juliet Odeon Leicester Square [62] Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Charles, Prince of Wales
2127 February 1967 The Taming of the Shrew Odeon Leicester Square [63] Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Earl of Snowdon
2014 March 1966 Born Free (second feature: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree )Odeon Leicester Square [64] [65] Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Katharine, Duchess of Kent
1915 February 1965 Lord Jim Odeon Leicester Square [66] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Earl of Snowdon and Prince William of Gloucester
1824 February 1964 Move Over, Darling [67] Odeon Leicester Square Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
1718 March 1963 Sammy Going South Odeon Leicester Square [68] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Earl of Snowdon, Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy
1626 February 1962 West Side Story Odeon Leicester Square [69] Elizabeth II
1520 February 1961 The Facts of Life Odeon Leicester Square [70] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Earl of Snowdon
1428 March 1960 The Last Angry Man Odeon Leicester Square [71] Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra
132 February 1959 The Horse's Mouth Empire, Leicester Square [72] Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret
124 November 1957 Les Girls Odeon Leicester Square [73] Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra
1129 October 1956 The Battle of the River Plate Empire, Leicester Square [74] Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Earl Mountbatten of Burma
1031 October 1955 To Catch a Thief Odeon Leicester Square Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [75]
915 November 1954 Beau Brummell Empire, Leicester Square Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret [76]
826 October 1953 Rob Roy Odeon Leicester Square Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret [77]
727 October 1952 Because You're Mine Empire, Leicester Square Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret [78]
65 November 1951 Where No Vultures Fly Odeon Leicester Square [79] Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret [80]
530 October 1950 The Mudlark Empire, Leicester Square George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret [81]
417 November 1949 The Forsyte Saga Odeon Marble Arch George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret [82]
329 November 1948 Scott of the Antarctic Empire, Leicester Square Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh [83]
225 November 1947 The Bishop's Wife Odeon Leicester Square [84] George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Queen of Denmark and King Michael I of Romania [85]
11 November 1946 A Matter of Life and Death Empire, Leicester Square [86] George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret [87]

References

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