Danny Dyer and Prince Charles have surprise 'family reunion' at awards ceremony

‘When your cousin Charlie makes the call, you’ve got to help your family out’

Sabrina Barr
Thursday 14 March 2019 09:08 GMT
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Prince Charles and Danny Dyer share an unlikely 'family reunion'

Danny Dyer and Prince Charles had an unlikely “family reunion” when the pair met at the 2019 Prince’s Trust Awards.

In 2016, Dyer discovered he was related to Thomas Cromwell, King Edward III, William the Conqueror and King Henry III when he appeared on BBC One‘s heritage show Who Do You Think You Are?

The Eastenders star mentioned his royal lineage while meeting Prince Charles for the first time at the London Palladium on Wednesday evening.

“I’m in Eastenders. Just wanted to let you know we’re related as well. King Edward III is my grandfather – but I won’t go into it. No he is, on my life,” the actor told the heir apparent to the throne.

“A very long way away,” Prince Charles replied, to which Dyer responded, “Yeah, I know, I know.”

King Edward III is actually Dyer’s great-grandfather 22 times removed.

Later on in the evening, Dyer appeared on stage alongside television presenter Kate Garraway to present the Prince’s Trust Mentor of the Year Award.

While on stage, the actor joked he and Prince Charles were having a “family reunion” at the awards ceremony.

“When your cousin Charlie makes the call, you’ve got to help your family out, you know what I mean?” he said in a statement that prompted laughter from the audience.

The actor then pointed to Prince Charles, who was sitting to the side of the stage.

Dyer quipped their royal connection had gone over the prince’s head, saying it went “straight up his nut”, as Prince Charles smiled on.

Prince Charles, who founded the Prince’s Trust in 1976 to support vulnerable young people, also spoke about their familial connection while delivering a speech on stage at the event.

“The other thing I found out today is that I discovered a long-lost relation in Daniel Dyer,” the prince said.

The royal explained Dyer had informed him he was descended from Edward III, a fact Prince Charles described as “interesting”.

“I must do some research when I go back from here,” the prince added.

In 2017, Danny Dyer’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? was nominated for the accolade of “Virgin TV’s Must-See Moment” at the Bafta Awards.

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The Prince’s Trust and TKMaxx and Homesense Awards honours young people who have overcome issues such as abuse, drug addiction, homelessness and depression, and gained success by working alongside the trust.

Other celebrities also in attendance at last night’s event included rapper Tinie Tempah, singer Anne Marie and radio presenter Clara Amfo.

For a full list of all the winners at the awards ceremony, click here.

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