King Charles III. - Monarch mourns the death of Barry Humphries
Australia bid farewell to entertainer and comedian Barry Humphries (1934-2023) on Friday with a state memorial service. Several personalities, above all King Charles III (75), paid tribute to the man who died in April at the event in the Sydney Opera House.
As Australian media reported at the time, Humphries, who was best known for his character Dame Edna Everage, died at the age of 89 following complications from a hip operation. At the memorial service, Australian Arts Minister Tony Burke read out a message from the King, as reported by the British Daily Mail, among others. Charles is said to have been on friendly terms with Humphries.
A royal between fear and fun
"I suspect that everyone who has appeared on stage or television with Barry's Dame Edna, or where she has appeared at the back of the royal box, has shared that unique feeling of combining fear and fun," Charles' message reads. The current king is alluding to an interlude by Humphries at the Royal Variety Performance in 2013.
Anyone who tried to insist on their dignity quickly lost their footing - and anyone who wondered whether Humphries was taking it too far was always right: "No one was safe." The comedian's characters pushed people, exposed pretensions and broke through pomposity. Above all, however, they taught people to laugh at themselves.
The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (60), media mogul Rupert Murdoch (92), comedian Jimmy Carr (51) and Sir Elton John (76) also had their say in front of thousands of fans, some of whom had dressed up as Dame Edna. Humphries was "one of the funniest people in the world", the music superstar explained in a video message.
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- Despite the solemn occasion, the memory of Barry Humphries brought a blend of fear and amusement among the Royals, as King Charles III mentioned in his tribute during the Commemoration service.
- Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul, also joined the tribute, reflecting on the impact of Humphries and his iconic character Dame Edna Everage on Australian entertainment.
- Elton John shared his heartfelt thoughts in a video message, calling Humphries one of the funniest people in the world, while thousands of fans dressed up as Edna to honor the late comedian.
- Charles III and Humphries shared a close relationship, with the entertainer making an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in 2013, which left the King and others with a mix of apprehension and enjoyment.
- The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, joined in the tribute, recognizing the significant influence Humphries and his characters had on the country's entertainment scene during the state memorial service for Barry Humphries.
Source: www.stern.de
