The King was “flabbergasted” after a magician turned pieces of newspaper into £20 notes as he and the Queen visited Bradford in West Yorkshire.
The monarch met Steven Frayne as the royal couple toured the UK City of Culture.
Frayne, who used to be known as Dynamo, was born in Bradford, and got his big break when the royal’s trust awarded him a grant.
The entertainer produced a handful of note-sized pieces of paper and told him “I’ve got some newspaper clippings but I’ve been trying to take any bad news and turn it into good news”.
And as he tapped the paper pile, it turned into £20 notes and the King held the money to verify it.
The classic “pick a card” trick with a twist followed and the monarch’s apt selection of “King of Hearts” became the new name for a string of wifi hotspots in the Bradford Live venue when the King named his card.
The royal burst into laughter and Frayne said later: “I’ve been fortunate to visit him in the royal estate, but it’s nice to bring him back to my hood, to my estate – from council estate to royal estate.
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“He’s created an opportunity for someone (who felt) I’m invisible, there was no hope. It’s almost come full circle as now he’s back in Bradford, 2025 we’re the capital of culture and he’s once again inspiring hope and he’s inspiring his own type of magic in all these incredible people.”
Asked about the King’s reaction to the magic, the entertainer replied: “He just said it was absolutely phenomenal and a lot of amazing words that made my magic sound incredible, he said keep going, and said he was flabbergasted.”
Frayne told the royal he “wouldn’t be doing magic today without the support you gave me”.
The King replied: “But it was your determination – you studied.”
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Frayne was one of a group of people who the King supported through his King’s Trust who met him at a refurbished venue which will play a key role during Bradford’s cultural year.
The King also recognised another of the city’s famous sons, painter David Hockney, while the Queen visited the nearby home of the Bronte sisters.
