EXCLUSIVE Queen Camilla says she ‘misses Paul O’Grady very much’ and was ‘touched by his kind heart’ in a moving tribute to the late TV presenter

• EXCLUSIVE:  The Queen will speak of how she misses her late friend Paul
• READ MORE:  Camilla is ‘deeply saddened’ by Paul O’Grady’s death

Queen Camilla will pay a tribute to Paul O’Grady  on a Christmas day radio show.

The royal, 76, who was a close friend of the late TV presenter will say how she ‘misses him very much’ and describe him as a ‘welcome guest at any event’.

She is one of many family and celebrities who will pay tribute to Paul O’Grady in a special Christmas show held in the star’s honour on Boom Radio on Christmas Day, showcasing the late comedian’s favourite music.

Paul, who died suddenly in March 2023, was well known for his legendary Christmas Day show, which he had hosted for 14 years. 

This Christmas Day, between 12-2pm on Boom Radio, the radio station for Baby Boomers, Paul’s friend Julian Clary and his producer Malcolm Prince will be playing some of the late entertainer’s best-loved singers and artists – along with tributes from those who knew Paul best.

Paul O’Grady The Musical Celebration, will also include exclusive tributes from Paul’s daughter Sharon Mousley, comedian Dawn French, actress Amanda Mealing – as well as a letter written by Camilla.

Queen Camilla will pay a tribute to Paul O’Grady on a Christmas day radio show (pictured together)

Julian Clary reveals the tribute Queen Consort Camilla wrote following Paul’s death which was read out at his Memorial Service in October.

‘I miss Paul very much. I had the pleasure of knowing him for many years, laughing at his waspish way with words and endlessly touched by the kindness of his heart,’ it reads.

‘He was the most welcome guest at any event, from glamorous parties to private visits to our beloved Battersea, and was loved by one and all.

‘Perhaps this is no surprise. After all, there are no finer judges of character than dogs, and about Paul, they were unanimous in their devotion, as were we all.’

Camilla is patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and O’Grady was a long-time ambassador for the animal welfare charity.

Paul spoke of his affection for Camilla in February last year when their dogs took part in a loyalty duel at Battersea’s Brands Hatch centre in Kent.

Praising the then Duchess of Cornwall’s commitment to Battersea, he siad: ‘I just love her, she’s great.’

In March, Camilla said she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the death of Paul O’Grady whose ‘warm heart and infectious humour lit up the lives of so many.’

Paul O’Grady collecting the best Factual Entertainment programme

Her Majesty – who worked with O’Grady to support the work of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home – will be sharing her sympathies with his family privately ‘in due course’.

A tweet from The Royal Family account said: ‘Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul O’Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of @Battersea_, providing lots of laughter and many waggy-tailed memories.’

It posted an image of the Queen Consort smiling alongside O’Grady after they took a rescued West Highland Terrier for a walk during a visit to a Battersea centre in Kent last year.

As part of its tributes, ITV showed the special episode of O’Grady’s hit show For The Love Of Dogs which featured the Queen Consort at 5pm today.

Elsewhere, Paul’s daughter Sharon Mousley will also read a message.

‘When I hear Abel’s ringtone, I think dad is going to walk in the room’

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‘When dad used to take [his grandson] Abel out in the car, he’d play Trouble by Elvis. Now Abel has that as his ringtone on his phone, and my dad used to have it on his phone. When I hear Abel’s phone ring, for a split second, I think my dad’s gonna walk into the room and say, ‘Who’s that on the phone?’

‘I asked my children what memories they had of Paul. And Halo said the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse March as they used to dance to that in his bedroom.

‘My dad absolutely loved music and he’s left me with a lot of great memories. I remember going to the press night of Cilla at the Liverpool Empire.

‘It got a little sad before the show when the actress who played Cilla started to sing Alfie. And I said, ‘don’t make me cry’. And he went, ‘you’re setting me off’. I think I got to bed about four o’clock in the morning after a few more ciders!

‘But we didn’t end up in a skip. So when I hear that song, it reminds me of him.’

Actor Tony Maudsley: ‘Paul stormed off set and flagged down a double decker bus to get home’

‘I first met Paul in 2003, when we were both cast in a new BBC sitcom called Eyes Down. 

‘It was the first time he was going to do scripted comedy. As Lily, he’d always had free reign over what he said and when he said it. With Eyes Down, he was working alongside five other actors and had to stick to a script.

‘In the beginning, he would get so frustrated when he had to film something again. He’d say, ‘what was wrong with that? I got all me lines right?’ They’d say, ‘I’m gonna do the same again from a different angle’. But he hated doing it over and over again.

‘One day, he got so frustrated he stormed off the set and said he’d had enough. I chased after him. I said, ‘Paul, there’s no car to pick you up till 4pm’. Next thing, he’d stuck out his hand and flagged down a double decker bus.

‘Take me to Tower Bridge’, he said to the driver. ‘I can’t mate, this only goes as far as Cricklewood.’

‘Oh, then I’ll go as far as Cricklewood and I’ll get a taxi,’ he said. But, of course, he came back into work the next day with his tail between his legs and he apologised to everyone.

‘There was never a dull day working with Paul. He was always angry about something which usually ensued in hours of hilarious anecdotes. But he was also kind and he was generous and he was just an absolute joy to have around and. I wouldn’t swap those days for anything.’

Comedian Dawn French on recreating also spoke of creating that famous Vicar Of Dibley puddle scene on Paul’s show.

‘I have many, many happy memories of darling Paul. 

‘Not only appearing on his show and all his generosity to me, but other memories like visiting him in panto backstage and seeing how grumpy he was. 

‘And all the rather irreverent, slightly rude Christmas cards we sent each other every year.

‘My biggest memory of Paul is actually when Paul wasn’t there – because I stood in for him once on his TV chat show. 

‘I agreed to jump into a puddle, which was, in fact, a big constructed 12-foot hill, which had no water in it whatsoever, and I fell 10-foot onto my left leg, which twanged underneath me, and I’ve had osteoarthritis ever since.

‘So, necking the painkillers and using a stick to walk, I think fondly of Paul. Do I mean fondly? No I don’t.’

Comedian Jo Brand will say:  ‘Paul was most hilarious when he was grumpy’

‘One year, while filming a panto, I remember being stood behind a bar with Joan Collins, who looks amazing. 

‘I looked like a cross between a crinoline lady toilet roll holder and the side of a barn.

‘Paul was waiting to make his entrance and then the inevitable hold-up happened and Paul was getting increasingly irritable.

‘It’s one of the most entertaining things I’ve ever seen and heard because I just didn’t know you could string quite that many swear words together in one sentence. 

‘He was hilarious and most hilarious when he was grumpy.’

Singer Michael Bublé adds: ‘Paul was the master of romance’

‘There are so many words I could use to describe Paul O’Grady; generous, humble, funny, kind, empathetic, romantic. 

‘I thought I was well versed in the art of romance until I was stopped in my tracks by the master himself, Paul, who chose to shamelessly flirt with me with abandon while I was on stage for my first An Audience With. I was blushing for the full hour on national TV.

‘I’ve got to be honest with you guys; I loved every single second! I miss you so much, Paul. 

‘Thank you for making the world a better place. I love you.’

Singer Barbara Dickson: ‘My version of I Know Him So Well with Paul is my favourite’

‘I went on the Big Breakfast on Channel 4 when Paul had taken over from Paula Yates. 

‘He interviewed me on the bed and I absolutely loved him. Before I left, he said to me, ‘”Would you come on my An Audience With show I’m going to do for LWT?” And I said, “yes, I’d love to do that. It would be great fun”.

‘He wanted us to sing I Know Him So Well. 

‘So, I met him in the rehearsal room and we rehearsed it and he played me and I played Elaine and he didn’t give me any instruction at all.

‘Because Paul was so funny, I just played it straight [on the night]. And because I played it straight, he had room for loads and loads of laughs [from the audience]. 

‘And he did it brilliantly. It’s very, very funny. And I have to say, it’s my favourite version of I Know Him So Well. It’s absolutely brilliant.’

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