Ellie Goulding proves her royal connections as she parties with Princess Eugenie at London-wide charity fundraiser

A host of famous faces turned out to support charities including Space for Giants, Elephant Family, Lions Guardians and the Aspinall Foundation
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Jennifer Ruby23 November 2016
The Weekender

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Ellie Goulding proved that she’s got friends in high places as she partied with Princess Eugenie at this year’s Animal Ball dinner.

The pop star, who is close friends with Prince Harry, was one of the lucky guests at the VIP dinner at The Arts Club in Mayfair on Tuesday night to raise money for charity The Elephant Family.

Just one day after she performed at the Streets of London showcase, alongside Jack Garratt and Laura Mvula, the 29-year-old was helping to support another good cause.

Pulling out all the stops with her outfit, Goulding wore a plunging gold lamé gown and bespoke elephant-inspired headpiece.

Supporters: Ellie Goulding, Susanna Warren and Princess Eugenie of York
Dave Benett

Princess Eugenie also donned some impressive headwear, as did fellow guests Teresa Fitzherbert, Susanna Warren and Caroline Rupert.

The dinner was just one of 40 events hosted across the capital on Tuesday night, tying in with an exhibition at the V&A for which designers including Cartier, Matthew Williamson, Alice Temperley and Christian Dior have created beautiful masks.

Anna Friel attends the VIP dinner at The Arts Club
Dave Benett

Hosted by conservation organisation The Elephant Family, the charity ball is hoping to raise over £2 million to support its own conservation work and charities including Lions Guardians and the Aspinall Foundation.

A whole host of famous faces, including Elizabeth Hurley, Anna Friel and Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev showed up to support the cause.

Around 800 guests attended 40 simultaneous dinners at restaurants including the Ivy, the Four Seasons, the Langham, Chiltern Firehouse, China Tang and Sexy Fish as well as Clarence House.

Friel, 40, an ambassador for Space for Giants, which works to save the African elephant, tried on a number of masks ahead of the ball.

“It was so much fun trying on many of the magical masks, each representing an endangered creature, stylishly brought to life by leading fashion houses,” she said.

"I’m honoured to be among the few who will be attending The Animal Ball to help raise awareness and funds for the work of Space for Giants, Elephant Family, Lions Guardians and the Aspinall Foundation.”

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