The Queen watches Strictly—and even voted for the winner—Camilla reveals on visit to EastEnders set

The Queen watches Strictly and, according to Camilla Parker-Bowles, even voted for one contestant leaving them “mind blown”

Prince Charles and Camilla visited the set of EastEnders, revealing the Queen watches Strictly
(Image credit: Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Royal viewing habits have been revealed by the Duchess of Cornwall and it turns out that Strictly Come Dancing has the royal seal of approval. Camilla and Prince Charles revealed they were huge fans of the show, and that Her Majesty watches too, while visiting the set of popular BBC soap EastEnders.


Just call her a dancing Queen because it turns out Her Majesty refuses to let anyone change the cha-cha channel when it comes to Strictly Come Dancing, the UK’s equivalent of Dancing With the Stars. The hugely popular show airs annually in the UK and sees a host of celebrities compete for a Glitterball Trophy, after learning to perform a series of classic dances, like the foxtrot and the samba.

While visiting the set of another British TV favorite, soap EastEnders, Camilla made the revelations in conversation with cast members of the show.

Camilla is a huge fan of Strictly

(Image credit: Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Camilla, accompanied by husband Prince Charles, made the royal visit in honor of an upcoming special episode being filmed to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

While at the studios in Elstree Centre in Borehamwood, North London, Camilla discussed her love for Strictly while chatting to 2021 winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, an actress who scooped the Glitterball Trophy alongside professional dancer Giovanni Pernice in 2021.

Rose, who is deaf, won over legions of fans as she triumphed in the competition, relying on the vibrations of the sound to keep in time with the music.

Seeing the actress, Camilla beamed and is reported to have said. “Rose, the Strictly star. I said we were all voting for Rose, I don't know how you did all those dances.”

Rose then plucked up the courage to ask, “Can I ask you, does the Queen watch Strictly Come Dancing?” to which Camilla replied that she did, and that the royal households were fans.

Speaking to the Daily Mail after the royal visit, Rose later said, “It was really funny because she's a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing and she mentioned that she voted for me which is so lovely, and her grandchildren watch it.

“It is amazing, so lovely. I mean come on, its the Royal family voting for me, sometimes you forget how many people watch the show, I am mind blown.”

Camilla has long been known to be a fan of Strictly—and was even granted access to a rehearsal of the show back in 2011.

Jack Slater
Freelance writer

Jack Slater is not the Last Action Hero, but that's what comes up first when you Google him. Preferring a much more sedentary life, Jack gets his thrills by covering news, entertainment, celebrity, film and culture for woman&home, and other digital publications.

Having written for various print and online publications—ranging from national syndicates to niche magazines—Jack has written about nearly everything there is to write about, covering LGBTQ+ news, celebrity features, TV and film scoops, reviewing the latest theatre shows lighting up London’s West End and the most pressing of SEO based stories.