Blake perform at the Save the Children Festival of Trees

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Celebrities joined HRH The Princess Royal at Save the Children's Festival of Trees fundraising Gala Dinner last night. Save the Children's star-studded event took place at the Natural History Museum on Tuesday December 4th from 6.45 -11 pm.

Guests, including HRH The Princess Royal - President of Save the Children - and Sophie Conran, Konnie Huq, Denise Lewis, Chris Evans, Natasha Shishmanian, Vanessa Feltz, Ben Ofoedu, Joanna Lumley, Claire Sweeney and Sophie Raworth among others, came together for a delicious dinner before bidding for bespoke designer trees specially created for and donated to Save the Children to raise money for its work around the world.

Marks & Spencer, Sophie Conran and Everton Football Club (with 'Everton toffees' specially made by Jamie Oliver's students at the Fifteen Foundation) were among the designers this year. No Christmas tree is complete without an array of gifts - and these trees come with presents which would top anyone's list. Gifts donated include luxury holidays to South Africa, Kenya and Thailand; dinner for two at a top London restaurant, with four of the Rugby World Cup Squad; a re-designed garden courtesy of Penny Meadmore, presenter of BBC2's Gardener's World, a Conran dinner service, a Marc Jacobs handbag and a chance to watch Chelsea vs. Everton (among other matches) from the Director's box!

There was also an opportunity to bid for a brand new Fiat 500 which has just been named European Car of the Year. It is being launched in the U.K. next year which meant that one lucky bidder will be the proud owner of the only Right Hand Drive car of its kind on the roads here! The car was on display all night.

The event was a huge fundraising success - over £500,000 was raised in total. The bespoke designer trees raised £174,000 with the Everton Football Club tree raising the most - it sold for £60,000. During the night guests were encouraged to purchase baubles costing from £100 to £1000 and hang them on huge trees around the main hall.

Joanna Lumley started the bauble-buying off by buying one for £1000 and hanging it on a tree. The baubles went on to raise over £80,000. The silent auction also raised £114,000 throughout the evening.

Television presenter and Save the Children supporter Davina McCall said, "Save the Children's Festival of Trees is a fantastic evening and I'm really disappointed not to be able to attend this year's event. I recently went on a trip to Bangladesh with the charity and saw for myself the vital work Save the Children do. I really hope the film will inspire people to bid so that more children can look forward to a better life in 2008."

Entertainment at the Festival of Trees Gala Dinner included Blake, four incredibly talented newcomers singing their unique combination of classical and pop music. There was also a short film featuring Davina McCall's recent trip to visit Save the Children's protection programmes in Bangladesh. The Festival of Trees Gala Dinner is a private event and entry is by invitation only.

Source:politics.co.uk