Quoting from The King’s Speech, the Oscar-winning movie about his great-grandfather, Prince William projected his royal voice on Saturday to woo the Hollywood power crowd in a bid with wife Kate to promote young British talent.
He in black tie, she in a pleated lavender Alexander McQueen gown, the young newlyweds set a tone of classic elegance for the most high-profile event in their three-day visit to the United States.
Hollywood royalty — from actors Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, and Barbra Streisand to studio mogul Harvey Weinstein — turned out for the couple of the moment at the $25,000 a table gala organised by British Academy for Film and Television (Bafta), of which William is president.
“I would like to thank Colin Firth for my perfect opening line — I have a voice,” William joked with the crowd, quoting one of the most famous lines in the 2010 movie about King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth who overcame a stammer.
Alas, Oscar winner Firth was not there nor were many established British actors. William and Bafta instead wanted to introduce 42 emerging British actors, producers, writers and videogame designers to the movers and shakers of the entertainment capital of the world. “Please give them the opportunities that you have always extended to some of the brightest and best that Britain has to offer,” William told the gathering at the Belasco, a restored theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
“When American and British creative talent gets together, magic happens. Let’s continue the winning formula.” —Reuters