(By Peter)
Just as Dame Shirley Bassey performed many times for Queen Elizabeth II, over the years she has also performed many times for the UK’s new King.
Born just over a decade before King Charles – interestingly there was the same age difference between The Queen and The Dame as there is between The Dame and The King – Dame Shirley has been an indefatigable supporter of The King’s charity work.
The images of Dame Shirley’s attendance at the then Prince of Wales’ 31st birthday in 1979 are iconic. Equally iconic were those images of The Dame with the then Princess of Wales after her 1990 performance for The Prince’s Trust. Then her set at 2002’s Picnic in the Park, with that subsequent legendary photograph of The Prince sitting between Dame Shirley and Dame Joan Collins?
Then there are the Royal Variety Performances. That of 1994 when the then Miss Bassey famously threw The Prince a flower. And that of 2000 which gave us those fabulous images both of Dame Shirley kissing Prince Charles and the group shot with Kylie Minogue.
As with The Queen, when not performing for The King, Dame Shirley has attended various events and receptions where he has been present, including with The Queen Consort, with whom Dame Shirley has also been photographed. There was an event in 2006 in aid of Elephant Family. There was The Prince’s 60th Birthday Party in 2008. The reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2010. In 2011, Dame Shirley performed at the Classic Brit Awards where the then Duchess of Cornwall presented John Barry’s posthumous honour for Outstanding Contribution To Music. Also in 2011, The Dame attended a reception at Clarence House for the National Osteoporosis Society.
Dame Shirley’s connections with the previous Prince of Wales have also been continued with the current one. Who can forget that incredible photograph of Prince William chatting to Dame Shirley at the end of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee concert in 2002? Or her performance at the 2014 Royal Variety Performance attended by the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge? Both The Prince and The Dame attended the Pride of Britain Awards in 2017. Then just last year, The Dame took a leading role in The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Mental Health Minute. Her powerful contribution to that showed that her speaking voice is just as beautiful as her singing one.
Whether or not The Dame ever performs for the new King, or indeed the new Prince of Wales, the intertwining of the careers of Wales’ greatest daughter and its longest serving Prince means her legacy of royal performing is secure.
If you want to understand why, look no further than these two performances The Dame gave in front of The King. Individually, each of them is testimony to the unique, never to be equalled, talents of Dame Shirley. Together, they are two of the greatest performances in show business history.
First, the show stealing turn at the 1994 Royal Variety Performance
Second, the equally show stealing turn at 1996’s Royal Gala.
M036534 26/05/99 CARDIFF, WALES PRINCE CHARLES IS MET BY SHIRLEY BASSEY ON A WALKABOUT IN CARDIFF CASTLE. ALPHA/GLOBE PHOTOS, INC. ©1999 
©ALPHA /GLOBE PHOTOS,INC.M042757 05.12.2000 SHIRLEY BASSEY & PRINCE CHARLES -ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE AT THE DOMINION THEATRE, LONDON 
©ALPHA/GLOBE PHOTOS,INC. M042757 05.12.2000 SHIRLEY BASSEY & PRINCE CHARLES -ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE AT THE DOMINION THEATRE, LONDON 
©ALPHA M042757 05.12.2000 SHIRLEY BASSEY -ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE AT THE DOMINION THEATRE, LONDON 
©ALPHA 048309 24/06/02 PRINCE CHARLES WITH DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY -ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS GOLDEN JUBILEE BALL HELD AT BURLINGTON HOUSE IN LONDON CREDIT ALPHA/GLOBE PHOTOS, INC. 
©ALPHA 048373 29.06.2002 PRINCE CHARLES SPEAKS WITH DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY AS THEY WATCH DIANA ROSS PERFORM AT THE SAFEWAY PICNIC 2002 IN LONDON’S HYDE PARK ALPHA/GLOBE PHOTOS INC ©2002 
The Prince of Wales and Camilla (Parker Bowles) The Duchess of Cornwall talk to Dame Shirley Bassey at an organic Indian feast “An elephant Durbar” in aid of Elephant Family charity for elephant conservation. Petersham House, Petersham, Richmond. A18964 062104 06-27-2006 PHOTO BY ALPHA-GLOBE PHOTOS, INC. 
Prince Charles watches the concert with Shirley Bassey. Prince Charles and Celebrities at the Safeway Picnic Benefit Concert Safeway Picnic 2002 London, United Kingdom June 29, 2002 Photo by Ken Goff Photos/WireImage.com To license this image (517270), contact WireImage: +1 212-686-8900 (tel) +1 212-686-8901 (fax) sales@wireimage.com (e-mail) http://www.wireimage.com (web site)
Dame Shirley Bassey Blog 
The very top picture, with King Charles, I think was RVP 2000, and possibly the worst wig DSB ever picked! The 1994 RVP in the white tassle gown was amazing! The second picture was 1996 A Royal Gala, DSB in the white lace gown, was a breath taking performance, that night!
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What a lovely stroll down memory lane of the many, many years DSB has known, and entertained the Royal family. She has such an easy rapport with the now King Charles. I am sure DSB was at the Queen’s funeral amongst other esteemed attendees.
What great dancers who opened the 1996 Royal Gala. DSB looked beautiful in her gowns as Ian stated, and performed exceptionally at each of these galas. Now for her upcoming 007 appearance. Thanks a million Pieter.
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