By Emma Mackenzie
Strictly Come Dancing isn't just one of the nation's favorite TV shows, it is also beloved by quite a few members of the Royal Family.
Both King Charles and Queen Camilla have been reported to regularly sit down to watch the dancing competition, and last year Princess Kate secretly visited the studio and dropped in on rehearsals with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The royal children were even able to take a few snaps sitting in the judge's seats.
Kate and Charlotte are massive fans of the hit show, but there is one member of the Royal Family who has admitted to a cast member that they would absolutely love to take part in the competition themselves, but there is no way they would ever be able to.
The admission was shared by dancer and choreographer Johannes Radebe - who has appeared on Strictly since 2018 - on the Jonathan Ross Show on ITV. Johannes revealed that the one royal who would be keen to take part is Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
"She would love the opportunity to [compete in Strictly Come Dancing] but she can't obviously. She has personally told me this," he explained. Sophie is known to be a massive fan of the dancing show and has even been seen in the audience of the show, grooving to the beats and clapping alongside her daughter Lady Louise Windsor, back in 2018.
Sophie isn't the only royal Johannes is close to - he also gave a dance demonstration to Queen Camilla back in January 2024, when she was so inspired by his abilities she said she may well even give tap dancing a go herself. "I've always wanted to tap dance," said the Queen, per the Express, "and in my dotage perhaps it's something I could take up." The dancing professional also gifted Camilla a pair of her very own tap shoes, just in case she decides to take the plunge and learn some new moves.
Camilla's admiration of Strictly goes all the way back to 2011, when she reportedly visited a rehearsal due to her friendship with judge Craig Revel Horward, who has also previously expressed hope that Camilla would one day agree to take part in the show too, as an honorary judge. "When it comes to my dream new judge – well, it's got to be my friend the Duchess of Cornwall.
"I've been desperate to get a royal on the show. Camilla could be just wonderful," he said to Hello Magazine in 2016. Camilla - and Prince Harry \- have also sent messages of support to be aired on the show back in 2020, and with the late Queen Elizabeth also known to be a fan of the dancing competition, it's a real family affair.
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