Alex King was the prankster who left Prince Charles fuming at Monday’s first night of The History Boys by Alan Bennett. Alex, 30, waved to waiting crowds outside The Odeon in London’s Leicester Square. Then he vaulted a barrier and coolly strolled in, chatting to comic actor Stephen Fry.

He was introduced to the royal couple, along with Fry, Bennett and cast including Lovejoy star Richard Griffiths and Rising Damp actress Frances de la Tour. And he even had the nerve to tell Charles he should be in a James Bond movie — and said Camilla looked nice.

To add to the embarrassment of organisers, Alex was only unmasked after The Sun’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards pointed him out. Last night as Clarence House urgently probed the blunder.

Alex said: “Eddie was a guest and bet me £100,000 I couldn’t gatecrash my way in. “I said, not only would I get in — but I would also shake hands with both Charles and Camilla.”

Eddie is a man of his word and a bet is a bet so he paid up.