Star-Studded Gala Dinner for the British Asian Trust

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, rubbed shoulders with celebrities, Bollywood stars and X Factor judges at a gala dinner for the British Asian Trust.

The Prince of Wales, 66, was dapper in black tie and a natty patterned pocket square while Camilla,  67, looked resplendent in a floor-length plum velvet gown lined with matching silk.

The royal pair hosted the event at the Banqueting House, Whitehall, along with singer Ella Henderson, Simon Cowell and Holly Valance, to raise money for the charity Charles founded in 2007. During the evening, Prince Charles was also pictured talking to X Factor judge Louis Walsh and Chelsea footballer Cesc Fabregas.

Charles joked with Indian actress Rani Mukerji, a top Bollywood star who glittered in a stunning gold sari. Meanwhile, Camilla more than held her own against such a backdrop of such sparkling glamour in a stunning diamond serpent necklace, matching bracelet and large amethyst and diamond drop earrings.

The Duchess’s necklace, which consists of round and square-cut diamonds in a platinum frame, with two tiny rubies for eyes, is thought to be a wedding gift from Charles. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also greeted children’s rights advocate Kailash Satyarthi, Coronation Street star Sair Khan and Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha. The royals joined the 300 guests who were treated to performances by Former X Factor contestant and Ghost singer Ella Henderson and stand-up comedian Romesh Raganathan.

Charles was also joined by celebrity guests including X Factor supremo Simon Cowell and one of the show’s judges Louis Walsh. Simon Cowell wore his trademark suit with open-necked white shirt and he posed for pictures with his arms proudly around girlfriend Lauren Silverman’s waist. The pair had clearly called in a babysitter to look after baby Eric while they met the royals.

Lauren looked elegant in a black column dress and chic clutch. Australian actress and singer Holly Valance wore a royal blue one-shoulder dress given an Asian twist with some silver and green beading. The former Neighbours star married to property mogul Nick Candy talked to entrepreneur and former Dragon’s Den star James Caan CBE. The cream of British Asian talent and celebrity were there to help raise money for the Prince’s own charity which aims to empower disadvantaged people in south Asia to transform their own lives. The British Asian Trust operates in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to end abuse and exploitation, as well as improve education, healthcare and livelihoods in impoverished areas.

The  event this year marked the launch of a new anti-trafficking fund for India supporting the work the Trust has undertaken in support of at risk girls affected by abuse and exploitation. India is home to almost half of the world’s trafficked population, according to royalcentral.co.uk, and the British Asian Trust has supported many programmes to embolden young, vulnerable girls, to take back their lives, including many who trafficked in the past. The inaugural event in 2014 raised more than £500,000 to support grass-roots programmes across South Asia.

The British Asian Trust Ambassador, Nihal Arthanayake hosted the evening festivities while Chelsea footballer Cesc Fàbregas, Shahid Khan (aka Naughty Boy) and Goodness Gracious Me comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar OBE were also there.