EASTENDERS fans were emotional tonight as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall made their eagerly-anticipated appearance in a moving Platinum Jubilee special.
Prince Charles and Camilla surprised the residents of Walford after Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, decided to throw a street party for the Square in celebration of the Queen’s 70-year reign.
The partygoers are left in disbelief when the royal couple pull up in a car outside the Queen Vic pub, greeted by Mick and Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright.
But there was one moment that really moved fans as Camilla tied a ribbon for “all the victims of domestic abuse”.
During the special episode of the BBC soap, Camilla is introduced to Karen Taylor, played by Lorraine Stanley, whose on-screen daughter Chantelle Atkins, played by Jessica Plummer, was murdered in a domestic abuse storyline.
The Duchess takes a purple ribbon and ties it around a tree in memory of Chantelle, who suffered months of abuse at the hands of her husband Gray Atkins in the soap.
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Camilla said: “This is for your daughter, Chantelle. This is for all victims of domestic abuse.
“It’s very important that she is remembered. My heart goes out to you, I know a lot of people who have lost children.”
EastEnders icon Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean, said it was a “proper royal seal of approval”.
Fans were emotional with one saying: “Ooh, Camilla putting a ribbon on Chantelle’s tree!. Excellent bit with the Duchess and the ribbon to highlight the cause.”
“I’ve got goosebumps,” added another.
A third said: “This is really surreal”
Another added: “Best EastEnders ever!”
A fourth said: “Absolutely love Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall in EastEnders!”
In the episode, Charles unveiled a plaque commemorating the visit to Albert Square dated June 2.
Dyer said: “We’d like to mark this very special occasion with a memento. We’ve all had a whip around and there is a collection for you behind the bar in your great-great-great-grandmothers boozer to go to a charity that is close to your heart.”
While meeting the residents of Walford, Charles is introduced to greengrocer Martin Fowler, played by James Bye, who explains the history of his market stall dating back generations in his family who have lived on the Square.
Charles said: “That’s the wonderful thing about London, all the different markets and stalls where people inherit them over the generations.”
The Prince of Wales said: “You lip-read very well” when introduced to Frankie Lewis, played by Rose Ayling-Ellis, and commented: “I don’t know how you keep this lot in order,” to police officer Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen.
Camilla shook hands with fan favourite Shrimpy, played by Ben Champniss, and “speechless” Harvey Monroe played by Ross Boatman.
She was also introduced to “legend of the square” Patrick Trueman, played by Rudolph Walker, and points out the “nice little bottle” of rum from Trinidad that Patrick is holding.
In unison, they say: “A drop a day keeps the doctor away,” causing the residents to laugh along with them.
Patrick then asks the duchess if he can interest her in a tot of rum before she leaves, to which Camilla agrees, as the residents cheer in the background.
He later asks to pour a dribble into Charles’ cup of tea, to which he replies: “I thought you’d never ask.”
The royal couple also met the soap’s iconic characters Stacey Slater, played by Lacey Turner, and Sonia Fowler, played by Natalie Cassidy.
At the end of the episode, Dyer’s character shares a toast to Her Majesty the Queen and “to all the people up and down the country doing exactly the same thing as us, celebrating”.
The EastEnders star discovered in 2016 during filming for Who Do You Think You Are? that he is related to Thomas Cromwell, Edward III, William the Conqueror and Henry III.
The royal couple filmed the scenes for the long-running BBC soap opera in March when they visited the new Elstree set and met the cast and crew.
In 2001, the Queen visited soap queen Dame Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell, on the EastEnders set.
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The royal visitor stepped behind the bar at the Queen Vic, strolled around Albert Square and through the EastEnders street market, meeting stars of the show.
The special Jubilee episode featuring Charles and Camilla aired on Thursday.
