The surreal moment an Australian comedian learns of Prince Philip’s death live on stage when he’s in the middle of telling a joke about the ‘3,000-year-old’ Duke of Edinburgh
An Australian stand-up comedian learned of Prince Philip’s death at the exact moment he was ridiculing the late royal on stage.
Lewis Spears had just delivered a joke about the Duke of Edinburgh at a comedy club in Melbourne on Friday night when he learned of his death just seconds later.
Mr Spears, 23, was skewering the Royal Family when he said Prince Philip – who died at the age of 99 – was ‘3,000 years old’.
Shook: Australian comedian Lewis Spears was left gobsmacked on Friday night, as he told a very insensitive joke about Prince Philip – before learning of his death just seconds later
‘Oh, can you believe that the royals are bad people? Yes! They live in castles. Of course they’re not very nice — have you guys not seen Shrek?’ he said.
But immediately after mocking Price Philip’s old age and saying he ‘invented racism’, an audience member shouted, ‘He died tonight!’, which prompted gasps from Mr Spears and the crowd.
‘What!’ the funnyman shouted in disbelief, before reading aloud the announcement from an audience member’s phone.
What are the odds? Just seconds after taking a swipe at Price Philip, an audience member shouted up: ‘he died tonight!’ – leading Lewis and the entire audience to gasp in shock
‘I have to say… it’s been overdue,’ he added, rather insensitively.
‘Are we sure he died today? I reckon he died 10 years ago and they wheel him out attached to strings at special events!’
Clearly still surprised by the turn of events, Mr Spears tweeted hours later: ‘Prince Philip died DURING my show tonight. Clip coming soon.’
Aghast: ‘What!’ Lewis shouted, as he read the announcement out on an audience member’s phone
Announcing the Duke of Edinburgh’s death on Friday, the Royal Family said in a statement: ‘It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
‘His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will made in due course.
‘The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.’
Passing: Prince Philip passed away on Friday. The Royal Family had said in a statement: ‘It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’. Pictured with Prince Harry in 2014