The British Museum was a vision of colour and chic style on Saturday as it hosted the inaugural Pink Ball.
A gallery of famous faces from the UK and around the world appeared for the event dubbed London’s answer to New York’s Met Gala.
Among them were Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, the actress Kirstin Scott Thomas and Lady Kitty Spencer.
Also attending were Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Just 800 people were invited to the exclusive, £2,000-a-head dinner at the museum, hoped to become an annual fixture in London’s social calendar.
The occasion was organised by the director of the British Museum Nicholas Cullinan and Isha Ambani, the daughter of Asia’s richest man.
It was held alongside the museum’s ongoing Ancient India: Living Traditions exhibition.
By way of illustrating India’s tradition in extravagant style, Ambani wore an embroidered pearl, sequin and crystal outfit which took 35 designers and 3,670 hours to make.
She was accompanied by her mother, Nita, founder of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, who wore a handwoven pink sari dress.
Lady Kitty Spencer, niece of Princess Diana, also made an impression on the pink carpet in a striking matching dress and white shawl.
She was joined by her sisters, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza, who were recently profiled by the Standard.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell wore a striking Union flag dress to the event, while TV presenter Maya Jama went in a floral Dolce & Gabbana gown.
On the menu for guests was spiced lamb fillet with buttermilk masala, slow-cooked dhal, pilau rice and dressed okra, followed by crème légère, passion fruit crémeux and chocolate Saint Honoré.
Also on offer were £30 bottles of red and white wine from Château Minuty, Côtes De Provence.
The evening included a performance by sitarist Anoushka Shankar and a speech from chair of the museum’s trustees George Osbourne.
Osbourne’s speech was interrupted by a pro-Palestine demonstrator, who was escorted outside.
