The Duchess of Cambridge may have been left at home minding the baby but there was plenty of glamour in her absence at Windsor Castle last night.
Actresses Emma Watson, Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham-Carter and models Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne were among a host of stars who attended a glittering gala dinner.
The charity event was to celebrate the work of The Royal Marsden Hospital in London, of which the Duke of Cambridge is president. He was spotted deep in conversation with former Harry Potter star Miss Watson, 24.
And while the stars dazzled in a variety of outfits, they were actually all dressed head to toe in Ralph Lauren.
The US designer sponsored the evening and will have a breast cancer care centre named in his honour at the hospital. He had a benign brain tumour removed 25 years ago and lost his close friend to breast cancer.
Also on the guest list was Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael and Sherlock Holmes star Benedict Cumberbatch.
As a global style icon, Middleton was missed at the high-fashion event. Royal aides say that she and Prince William want to keep their charitable projects mostly separate to spread their influence more widely.
William became president of the hospital in 2007, taking up a position once held by his late mother Diana.
But although Middleton wasn’t there, the 200 guests were treated to a spectacular evening of entertainment. They enjoyed a drinks reception in the historic Waterloo Chamber before dining on smoked salmon, fillet of beef and salted caramel tart. And afterwards, they were entertained by award-winning singer Emeli Sande.
