Animal masks in hand, the King and Queen led the celebrations at a conservation charity ball tonight.
Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, appeared in high spirits at Lancaster House’s party to mark the 20th anniversary of animal rights group Elephant Family, which was founded in 2003 by Her Majesty’s late brother Mark Shand.
This year’s annual Animal Ball is a celebration of indigenous communities and is being hosted by the Elephant Family in partnership with the British Asian Trust.
At the London event, the King and Queen, dressed in a bespoke Anna Valentine dress, presented two elephant family awards – the Mark Shand Award and the Tara Award – to recognize contributions to the protection of Asian wildlife.
Upon arrival in the garden of Lancaster House, Their Majesties were greeted by Ruth Ganesh, co-founder of the Elephant Family, and Richard Hawkes, Managing Director of the British Asian Trust.
Many wealthy guests joined the royal couple at the glamorous event including Christian Louboutin, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sir Brian May, his wife Anita Dobson, Donna Air, Keely Hawes, Emma Weymouth and Gwendoline Christie.
Animal masks in hand, the King and Queen led the celebrations at a conservation charity ball tonight
The king has met various celebrities, including Kristin Scott Thomas
The King and Queen presented filmmaker Ms Kartiki Gonsalves with an award
The guests wore their best animal fare for the evening
Sir Brian May and his wife Anita Dobson also opted for masks for the evening
The garden at Lancaster House has been adorned with the charity’s Lanterna elephant sculptures, which were part of the ‘Co-Existence’ exhibition at the Royal Parks in 2021.
Between the Lanterna elephant sculptures, the King and Queen met the evening’s awardees, who included members of the Adivasi tribal community of the Nilgiri Mountains in India.
The community received the Elephant Family’s Mark Shand Award for 2023 from the Queen. The King and Queen also met Academy Award-winning Indian documentary filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, who received the newly created Tara Award from His Majesty.
The Tara Award is named after Mark Shand’s elephant, who first inspired the creation of the elephant family.
Model and socialite Emma Weymouth poses with shoemaker Christian Louboutin at the ball
Kristin Scott Thomas and Emma Weymouth were also at their best
Annie Doble, Emma Weymouth and Gwendoline Christie all opted for eye-catching masks
Well-heeled guests like Donna Air, Matthew Macfadyen, Keeley Hawes, Emma Thynn and Freya Air Aspinall would certainly pose for the photo
Among the guests was conservative party leader Nadhim Zahawi (left).
Rugby star Maro Itoje looked dapper on the ball in his tuxedo
Model Adot Gak was stunning in a shimmering navy and blue dress
Celebrity guests included Donna Air and her daughter Freya Air Aspinall (left), and actors Keeley Hawes and Matthew Macfadyen
After meeting the charity’s supporters and performers at the Animal Ball, the King and Queen made their way to a marquee for the awards ceremony.
During the presentation, Their Majesties heard a series of musical performances by the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and singer-songwriter Tom Odell.
The king, in an impromptu speech after presenting a conservation award at the ball, urged people to “pay attention” to indigenous communities “before it’s too late”.
He said, “I think it’s been over 35 years since I tried to start a project to gather as much indigenous knowledge and wisdom as possible around the world.” But at the time, no one wanted to know .
“But now, if I do say so myself, it is absolutely critical that we turn to all the knowledge and wisdom of the indigenous people, as only then can we truly restore the balance and harmony that is so desperately needed in this world if we want to save the planet.” .
“So it’s up to all of us to heed this knowledge and wisdom before it’s too late.”
Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, appeared in high spirits at Lancaster House’s party to mark the 20th anniversary of animal rights group Elephant Family, which was founded in 2003 by Her Majesty’s late brother Mark Shand
King Charles III Speaks to reality star Gemma Collins at the Animal Ball at Lancaster House
Participate! The king and queen wore masks with two elephants at the ball
Radiant! The king and queen all smiled as they attended the ball tonight
The King and Queen also met former Towie star Gemma Collins, who is a supporter of the Elephant Family. Pictured is the Queen talking to Gemma Collins
The Queen (pictured left, with Gemma Collins) looked elegant in a blue embroidered tunic top with blue chiffon palazzo pants from Anna Valentine and diamond earrings from Van Cleef and Arpels
The King (pictured right) said to a star-studded audience of around 300 guests tonight: “Both my wife and I.” [are] I am very proud to be able to present these two awards. Especially if I do say so myself, turns out today is actually Mark Shand’s birthday
This year’s colorful event, co-hosted by Elephant Family and the British Asian Trust, attracted a number of famous faces including Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Keeley Hawes, Matthew Macfadyen, Jilly Cooper (pictured right, greeting the Queen) and Christian Louboutin, Emma Weymouth and former Treasury Secretary Nadim Zahawi
Queen Camilla talks to Jilly Cooper while attending the Animal Ball at Lancaster House, London
Elephant Family is a wildlife conservation charity dedicated to building landscapes that support human and wildlife coexistence. Pictured are the King and Queen speaking to guests at the annual ball
The king said before a star-studded audience of around 300 guests: “Both my wife and I.” [are] I am very proud to be able to present these two awards. Especially if I do say so myself, turns out today is actually Mark Shand’s birthday.
“And he would have been so thrilled to learn that Elephant Family was able to celebrate its 20th anniversary.”
On the occasion of Mark Shand’s 72nd birthday, the monarch presented the Oscar-winning Indian filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves with the Tara Award – named after the elephant that inspired him to found the charity in 2003.
Her documentary The Elephant Whisperers won the Oscar for Best Short Documentary in February – the first Indian-produced film to win the award.
This year’s colorful event, co-hosted by Elephant Family and the British Asian Trust, attracted a number of famous faces including Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Keeley Hawes, Matthew Macfadyen, Jilly Cooper, Christian Louboutin, Emma Weymouth and the former Chancellor of the Finance Minister Nadim Zahawi.
The King and Queen also met former Towie star Gemma Collins, who is a supporter of the Elephant Family.
The Queen looked elegant in a blue embroidered tunic top, blue palazzo chiffon pants by Anna Valentine and diamond earrings by Van Cleef and Arpels.
She and the king were presented with shola masks by renowned Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, carved from sholapith, a sustainable type of cork grown in the swamplands of Bengal.
The royal couple posed for photos surrounded by life-size elephant sculptures made from lantana, an invasive weed that is impacting human and animal habitats in India and was part of the charity’s 2021 Co-Existence Exhibition at the Royal Parks.
Some of the 125 elephant sculptures from the 2021 exhibition are now on permanent display in the gardens of Her Majesties’ private homes in Highgrove and Raymill – and two of them belong to Gemma Collins.
The garden at Lancaster House has been adorned with the charity’s Lanterna elephant sculptures, which were part of the ‘Co-Existence’ exhibition at the Royal Parks in 2021
At the London event, the King and Queen (pictured), dressed in a bespoke Anna Valentine gown, presented two elephant family awards – the Mark Shand Award and the Tara Award – to recognize contributions to the protection of Asian wildlife
After meeting the charity’s supporters and performers at the Animal Ball, the King and Queen made their way to a marquee for the awards ceremony
“You are absolutely beautiful,” she told the Queen. “What I love about them is the way the eyes move with you in the garden.”
Her Majesty praised the TV star for her eye-catching headpiece – a headband with a glossy cherry and caterpillar at the top.
“I’m just so happy to be here and to be spending this evening with you,” Gemma told her.
Addressing the king, Gemma said: “You truly are the king of the planet and we love you for what you do for the animals.” Please keep spreading this message, it means so much.”
The King and Queen have long supported the elephant family, from visiting the charity’s projects on overseas visits as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to supporting initiatives such as The Big Egg Hunt and the CoExistence campaign of the 125 life-size animals Elephant sculptures will be on display at the Royal Parks in London in the summer of 2021.
Some of the Lanterna elephant sculptures that were part of the exhibition now live permanently in the gardens at Highgrove and Raymill.
Elephant Family is a wildlife conservation charity dedicated to building landscapes that support human and wildlife coexistence.
The charity supports a variety of projects that find ways for people and animals to live closer together – from securing a network of wildlife corridors that act as bridges between islands of forest to relocating busy highways that cut through primary forests.
The organization was founded in 2003 by the late Mark Shand, who died in 2014. He was passionate about protecting and supporting elephants and Asian wildlife.
During the presentation, Their Majesties (pictured right) heard a series of musical performances by the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra and singer-songwriter Tom Odell
A guest shows his creative mask to a curious King Charles during the evening event
Reality star Gemma Collins (pictured right) poses next to the sculptures at the ball in London tonight
Upon arrival in the garden of Lancaster House, Their Majesties (pictured right King Charles) were greeted by Ruth Ganesh, co-founder of the Elephant Family, and Richard Hawkes, Managing Director of the British Asian Trust
The King and Queen have long supported the elephant family, from visiting the charity’s projects on overseas visits as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to supporting initiatives such as The Big Egg Hunt and the CoExistence campaign of the 125 life-size animals Elephant sculptures will be on display at the Royal Parks in London in the summer of 2021
In 2020 Elephant Family joined forces with the British Asian Trust in a new philanthropic partnership dedicated to supporting the wildlife of Asia.
The Alliance brings together the best minds in conservation, management and philanthropy in an urgent response to the growing crisis of human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss threatening Asia’s elephants, big cats and the rural communities that live with them.
By combining expertise, charities can accelerate their response and increase their impact on both sides.
As Prince of Wales, the King founded the British Asian Trust in 2007 alongside British Asian business leaders. The charity works to reduce poverty and disadvantage for communities in South Asia.
This includes work in anti-trafficking, education, livelihood, mental health and conservation areas.
Following her meeting with the King and Queen, Gemma said: “It is an absolute honor to be here tonight.” To actually receive the King and Queen’s royal invitation to meet me personally and for my love of animals and conservation to be appreciated.
“And King Charles is the king of the planet.” All youngsters need to know that unless we start caring for animals, have respect for animals and stop this heinous cruelty, they will not be able to show their children animals in the future , which is going extinction every day.
“In this decade, there shouldn’t be anyone who would show cruelty to another living being, and that’s why I care so much about King Charles and Camilla.” And I’m just so fascinated by all the good work they’re doing for conservation.
‘Her [Camilla’s] Brother Mark Shand… what he did was crazy. And I just notice today that many young people are not about TikTok, away from TikTok, away from Instagram. Let’s get in touch with the animals and let’s all coexist. Let’s get a hold of and save these beautiful creatures that bring us so much joy.
“And King Charles and Camilla… I really hope… I want to do a documentary to bring that to the attention of youngsters. I really hope they join. I mean me and king charles and camilla on safari would be great.
“We would have so much fun and, you know, it doesn’t matter what the background.” [you’re from] and that’s why I love King Charles and Camilla…because they literally brought me close to them. Inviting me here just meant so much to me.
“I have two of these elephants in my garden. And you know what? I wake up every morning and they bring me so much joy. And it’s just a message that we need to spread once and for all.
“We must not kill or injure our animals.” We are meant to support them and be their voice, and that’s why the king and queen are my top priority.
“He’s the king of the planet.” While these occasions are intended for wealthy people, they go beyond that. Anyone can show compassion to an animal.
“People don’t get the message.” It’s not about eyelashes, hair, what car you drive when you have a Rolex watch, it’s so boring.
“What did you do today to help an animal? What have you done to minimize your carbon footprint for the planet? What message did you give someone today? Everything has been lost, everything has gone mad. “People have to take it back and take it seriously because … a lot of these animals won’t be around much longer.”
She said of the king, “He has such a personality. And he can really appeal to her, and when we get through all these young people, big, amazing things can happen.”