Brand makes royal romance gag at Variety

Russell Brand has joked about romancing Zara Phillips at the Royal Variety Performance.

The Radio 2 DJ told the audience at Liverpool's Empire Theatre, which included the Queen, that he had been considering trying to begin a relationship with the monarch's granddaughter.

Brand said: "I've been thinking about Zara an awful lot - I was wondering if she was single.

"There'd be a courtship of course - and then probably a court martial."

Other performers at the event included Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts, singer Seal and US rockers Jon Bon Jovi.