Wye's Etienne Pradier and Dover-based Joshua King perform magic for Prince Charles' Christmas party
15:25, 08 January 2020
updated: 15:29, 08 January 2020
Two magicians got to amaze a prince as they performed at a royal Christmas party.
Wye-based Etienne Pradier has been taking part in Prince Charles' Christmas party for 20 years, and for the last decade has been tasked with finding acts for the show.
This year, his 20-year-old student Joshua King from Dover was brought along for his first royal outing.
Mr Pradier - who is a gold star member of the Magic Circle and has 'fooled' Penn and Teller - met the promising magician at Houdini's Magic Bar in Broadstairs three years ago.
Taking him under his wing for the last two years, Mr King has since performed across the world.
As part of the December 17 celebrations, Mr Pradier presented the prince with a sealed deck of cards inside a bottle, a physics-defying gift made by Ashford's Chris Harding.
The pair also got to meet singer Alfie Boe, who was performing alongside them for the regal party.
The French illusionist - a 33-year veteran of the magic industry - has previously performed for David Cameron, Bruce Forsyth and Johnny Depp.
Last year, he was on the bill for a charity auction which raised £10,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Another of his protégés, Lewis Fuller from Biddenden, got the chance to perform for the likes of Cilla Black and Jonathan Ross in 2010.
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