King Charles III is among those paying tribute to comedian Barry Humphries at a state memorial service at the Sydney Opera House.
A message from the King will be read by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley at Friday’s service, followed by a video tribute from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Sir Elton John, Rupert Murdoch, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Walliams and Bruce Beresford are also among those paying their tribute.
The comedy legend, best known for his alter egos Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, died in Sydney on April 22 at the age of 89.
Humphries’ extraordinary international career, spanning seven decades, will also be remembered by family, friends and fans.
His death, following complications from surgery, led to an outpouring of tributes to the esteemed national icon at home and abroad.
Humphries, who lived in London for decades, returned to Sydney in December last year where he suffered a fall that required a hip replacement.
He died at St Vincent’s Hospital due to post-operative complications.
Humphries delighted and outraged audiences for more than half a century with his cavalcade of grotesques, presented in a unique blend of old-fashioned music hall and contemporary satire.
Among them were the coarse Sir Les Patterson, ‘Australia’s cultural ambassador to the Court of St. James’ and the melancholic and tempestuous Sandy Stone.
Dame Edna picked ‘possums’ from her audience and made them squirm, her performances ending with a blizzard of ‘gladdies’
She was a huge critical and popular success.
Humphries continued to tour until the last year of his life and was ‘an entertainer through and through’ who made millions of people laugh.
John Barry Humphries was born on February 17, 1934.
The two-hour commemorative event is co-hosted by the Australian and NSW governments and starts at 11am.
Oscar Humphries with his children
Oscar Humphries with his children
Guests dressed as Dame Edna Everage attend the State Memorial for Barry Humphries
John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia and his wife Janette Howard
Malcolm Turnbull, former Prime Minister of Australia and his wife Lucy Hughes Turnbull
Lawyer Geoffrey Robertson
TV presenter Kerri-Anne Kennerley
Christian Wilkins, son of memorial host Richard Wilkins