The Stars Sparkle In Chopard As They Join Sir Elton John And David Furnish.

by Marcia Moody, OK, July 10, 2007

There are many things that have come to herald the beginning of a traditional British summer -- hopefully dusting off the barbecue at the first glimpse of sunshine, that first glass of Pimm's in your local waterlogged pub garden, rain interrupting play at Wimbledon, and now over the last nine triumphant years, Sir Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball. Even when the weather doesn't play ball, the glittering guest list, gourmet menu, A-list performers and a profusion of jaw-dropping gowns diamonds more than make up for it! Picking their way across the lawns of Elton and his partner David Furnish's 37-acre property Woodside in Old Windsor were a galaxy of some of our brightest stars from the worlds of music, film, fashion, television and sport, with a sprinkling of royalty added to the mix. While previous years have been inspired by the majestic themes of Imperial China, Moghul India and the film Gosford Park, this year there was an extra injection of showbiz razzmatazz thanks to the lavis Las Vegas theme, and those who attended were certainly rewarded for their efforts. Some of Hollywood's finest were in attendance, and Kirsten Dunst, Dita Von Teese, Elle Macpherson and Quentin Tarentino's new muse Rosario Dawson rubbed their impeccably buffed shoulders with the bet of British talent including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Caine, Stephen Fry, Natasha Bedingfield, Sharon Osbourne, David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Simon Pegg and Gordon Ramsay.

While the ladies dazzled as brightly as the theme of the evening -- with burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese in a blazing infra-red Christian Lacroix gown and Chopard earrings, Scream star Neve Campbell in lime green Ben de Lisi and Sin City actress Rosario Dawson gorgeous in inky blue Moschino -- the gentlemen didn't disappoint either. Rising pop star Patrick Wolf wore a silver crown in his fiery locks and a white sequinned number from Burberry, while Sir Elton sported a tailcoat embroidered with "Las Vegas" across the back and was glittering with Chopard jewels. David opted for Chopard Ice Cube diamond cufflinks, and Stephen Fry even stuck to the dress code and wore a tiara!

Lending the evening a warm glow of familiarity, many of the guests have become regulars over the years while both Audi and Swiss jewellers Chopard remain proud sponsors, and of course OK! magazine was invited back once again to cover every moment of the star-studded evening.

While it gives guests the perfect opportunity to sample the delights of Elton and David's hospitality and the beauty of the grounds, there is a very important reason behind all the revelry. The Elton John AIDS Foundation was set up 14 years ago and focuses its attention primarily on the people of South Africa, as until recently it was home to more people with HIV/AIDS than the rest of the world. The foundation has provided food, homes, schooling and grants for children affected by the disease, as well as life-saving medication and care. Elton told us: "David and I visit Africa every January and it's such a great way to start the year. It's impossible not to be moved by the spirit of these people. How can you not be uplifted by their beauty, spirit and gratitude?" Therefore, tickets for this year's ball started at £3,000 and the entire event raised a staggering and record-breaking £6.1 million.

As the White Tie & Tiara Ball nears its tenth anniversary, Elton and David feel it's important for the format to retain the fizz and flash that was there in year one. "We really wanted to change it this year because lots of other events are beginning to look at similar themes," explained Simon Prytherch of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. "We're shaking it up a bit and surprising people this year. The theme is usually very grand and historic so it's great to do something more fun where it's all completely about entertainment. It's important in terms of fundraising to keep one step ahead. People think they know what they're going to get but they don't. We have a core group who come every year so you've got to keep them on their toes!"

As the guests arrived they were treated to their first taste of Las Vegas -- Elton style! The reception area was themed as a Vegas wedding chapel, lit pink with a sparkling showgirl in silver hotpants and Chopard diamonds twirling around the new Audi R8, which was festooned with heart-shaped displays of roses, and auctioned off later in the evening. They then made their way up the drive where they were greeted by huge inflatables from the set of Elton's Red Piano Show, including an ice cream cone, a banana, lipstick and cherries. Adding to the ambiance was a pink Cadillac providing the kitch backdrop for six Elvis impersonators, while burlesque dancer Gwendoline Lamour performed in a glass slipper.

Welcoming quests to the main garden was an eight-piece band with crooner Richard Shelton singing old Rat Pack classics on a stage crafted to look like a white piano. And for those with a beady eye, he used to play killer doctor Adam Forsythe in Emmerdale! Taking centre stage was a semi-circular ice bar shaped like the coliseum and behind it a 9 ft. ice plinth boasting a clear glass bowl with the Caesar Twins performing acrobatic acts.

Among the roses and raindrops, guests sipped Laurent-Perrier Brut non-vintage champagne or one of the Grey Goose vodka cocktails created specially for the evening, which included the Golden Nugget Martini featuring a gold-covered almond. For those who were a little peckish, there were a selection of light canapés provided by Rhubarb Food Design. The hot selection included fillet of beef with fondant potato and béarnaise sauce, tomato tarts with glazed goats cheese and sweet potato hash browns with beef, chili and avocado salsa, while the cold selection included sashmi of tuna wrapped in mooli with a wasabi dip, fresh crab with caviar and sour cream and cornfed chicken and feta salad with mint in a watermelon box with aged balsamic vinegar.

First-timers including Sugababe Heidi Range and her boyfriend Dave Berry, Freddie Flintoff and Nip/Tuck actress Joely Richardson mingled with regulars Graham Norton, Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, Janet Street-Porter, Nick Rhodes, Sarah Ferguson and Boris Becker. Former Liberty X star Michelle Scott-Lee was enjoying her second year at the ball and told us she decided not to go for a designer gown: "It's vintage. I got it from a tiny boutique in New York last year. I've just been waiting for the perfect opportunity to wear it and this is it!"

Unfortunately fellow event regulars Elizabeth Hurley and Simon Cowell were at the last minute unable to come. Elizabeth's new husband Arun Nayar told us that his wife was ill at home, while Simon's girlfriend Terry Seymour explained: "Simon just came back from Manchester filming The X Factor and he was really tired so he stayed at home. It will be more fun without him anyway!" Sharon Osbourne was unusally flying solo as none of the rest of her family could make it: "My family are all over the world but not here," she told us sadly. However, there was good news from Ivana Trump who attended with her partner Rossano Rubicondi and told us: "We just got engaged!"

The usual red carpet into the marquee was forgone in place of a hot pink one, and the walkway was created as a tribute to the Vegas Strip. All the town's top hotels such as the Bellagio, Luxor, MGM, New York and Caesars Palace had been carved out of ice and were glittering with Chopard diamonds leading into the entrance, which was like looking down a kaleidescope into a profusion of red and pink reflected back on itself with mirror-lined walls and a huge sparkling chandelier. However, nothing could prepare guests for the stunning dining area which was designed like a '50s Vegas club with the focus on the stage, which was surrounded on both sides by bevelled mirrors. A circular curtain of water fell in the centre of the room, and suspended over the bar in the reception hung a 3 ft. 6 in. Swarovski chandelier. Florist Rob Van Helden accentuated the sumptuous colour palette of pink and red with velvety deep red roses and dark pink and opal hydrangeas set in 5 ft. trumpet vases, while the tables sparkled darkly with specially commissioned black crystal glasswear.

Once guests were seated, Sir Elton and David welcomed their guests and thanked Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele from Chopard, Ralph Weyler from Audi and OK! and Express Newspapers chairman Richard Desmond from their help and support before the food was served. The menu was created once more by Rhubarb -- to start was a deliciously light white truffle and parmagiana soufflé, followed by the classic "surf and turf" of fillet mignon and Maine lobster tail accompanied by "straw chips", little dishes of grass-blade-thiin fries, which were the skinniest chips we've ever seen! For dessert, the waiting staff brought out a seemingly endless supply of Vegas knickerbockers glories ablaze with sparklers that were all flared up with blow-torches as they left the kitchen. The feast was washed down with red (2004 Puligny Montrachet, Domaine Alain Chavy) and white (2004 Chateau Lynch Bages Pauillac) wines or, for those with a simpler pallete, Peroni beer and Ty Nant mineral water.

Once the guests were temporarily sedated with good food and fine wines, Stephen Fry took to the stage to introduce two speakers, Mphu Ramatlapeng and Kekeletso Serobanyane from Lesotho, in Africa, who explained how the money raised by the White Tie & Tiara events had changed their lives. Stephen then asked people to use the pledge cards that had been placed at every table setting, explaining that £5,000 would buy a motorbike for an organisation called Riders For Health. The organisation sends aid to remote areas of Lesotho where HIV is widespread. He then added: "I'm going to buy one, so put your reading glasses on, if you're at an age like me, and fill in the pledge card. This is a magnificent example of how love can make a difference to the giver and the receiver."

The auction was hosted by Nick Stewart and guests whipped themselves into a frenzy. First up was the Rolls Royce Drophead Coupé which has a waiting list stretching into 2009. OK! and Express Newspapers chairman Richard Desmond bid for the car, helping it eventually go for £800,000. Next was the Star Trek Voyager appliquéd blanket by award-winning artist Tracey Emin. Tracey took to the stage for a speech, saying: "I wish there was no such thing as AIDS. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. This is not about tigers or landscapes, it's about the fact one in four people in Africa will be dead in the next few years. Sorry to be boring but we have to do something about it." And sure enough, following offers from Elton and Michael Caine that drove bidding higher, the lot also went for £800,000. A private tennis lesson with Roger Federer at Elton and David's home went for £300,000, and a trip to South Africa with Elton and David -- to see first-hand the work the charity has been doing and what more needs to be done -- went to businessman and philanthropist John Caudwell, who made the successful bid of £800,000. Finally, the new Audi R8 went for £400,000 as Nick announced: "We've broken the previous record and raised over £3 million. This has been some auction!"

David Furnish then sold off ten Superbrand goody boxes for £20,000 each that contained all sorts of loot including an Elizabeth Hurley kaftan, Elle Macpherson Intimates underwear, a Chopard watch, an Anya Hindmarch handbag, Jimmy Choo shoes, a Billionaire shirt, Berluti shoes, return flights on the exclusive Eos airlines to New York, a Ben de Lisi dress and Joe Malone candles. Plus one of them also contained a diamond-encrusted mobile phone worth £50,000. All ten boxes went in less than ten seconds.

The final fundraising part of the evening was the raffle -- which saw an Audi TT up for grabs. All guests found a poker chip with number on when they sat down for dinner and the lucky winner generously said they would like to give it back to be auctioned off for more money for the charity, raising a further £150,000.

David then announced: Now it's all about entertainment and it's all about fun," introducing Elton with the words: "He's my partner, my husband, my other half." Elton then performed Moon River followed by I've Got You Under My Skin. Camilla Fayed was first on her feet with her dance partner and Kirsten Dunst and Simon Pegg swiftly joined them as they twirled round the dancefloor. Elton then introduced the next performer with the words: "She's a legend and she just gets better and better with age. I remember her singing Kiss Me Honey Honey (Kiss Me), and I wanted to do just that. It's Dame Shirley Bassey!" After belting out a spine-tingling rendition of Goldfinger, Shirley was joined by Elton for the storming Hey Big Spender. Shirley even chuckled: "This is very appropriate for you!" Then Elton announced the next megastar performer, saying: "I remember singing backing vocals for this man, we played together in Vegas and he's still got the same voice. Ladies, if you throw your knickers at him you will have to donate £5,000 to the Elton John AIDS Foundation! The incredible Tom Jones!" Tom opened with a cover of Arctic Monkey's I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor before purring his way through a medley of his hits. Tom was then joined by Elton for the roof-raising finale of Delilah.

A smiling and tiny Dita Von Teese told us she loved seeing Tom Jones perform, saying: "It's been such a fantastic evening. This is my first time at the White Tie & Tiara Ball and it's just so beautiful. I love the Vegas theme and to see Tom Jones perform was really special." While Dame Judi Dench told us: "I was sat with Robert Lindsay and I can't believe after 50 years in this industry wee had never met before! What a lovely man." Hanging out at the bar we came across Heidi Range and Dave Berry, who were catching up with their old friend Steve Jones, as Heidi tried to set Steve up with one of her friends. Revealing a new shorter hairstyle, the T4 star revealed: "I just had it cut recently and every single one of my friends have said how they prefer it and that they didn't like it longer. I was like: 'Cheers, guys -- thanks for letting me walk around looking like an idiot all these years!' I'm never having it long again!"

As the DJ Pete Roberts took to the turntables, acrobats performed over the dancefloor and girls in bikinis and hunks in trunks gyrated in glass boxes. There were a sselection of light breakfast canapés on offer to sustain the crazy dancers, including buffalo mozzarella with prosciutto and creamy fontina with sliced tomatoes and garden herbs. For those with a sweet tooth, they could choose from a selection of miniature brioche filled with an array of sorbets and ice-creams, including limoncello, bitter chocolate, almond and Amaretto.

Meanwhile, it wouldn't be Vegas without a spot of gambling, and two roulette tables and three black jack tables were unveiled where guests could buy chips and play for prizes such as another £50,000 diamond-encrusted phone, Chopard watches and a weekend in a Scottish castle, with all casino proceeds going to the UK hardship fund for children with AIDS -- administered by the Children With AIDS Charity. Former Boyzone star Stephen Gately and his husband Andrew Cowles were two of the first to hit the tables, refusing OK!'s offer to blow on their dice for a bit of good luck!

Even as guests left the party there were still visual treats in store thanks to flashing strobe lights in the trees and neon signs across the lawn, blazing with messages like: "Shop till you drop!" And while the Scissor Sisters' disco hit I Don't Feel Like Dancin' floated out across the air, the departing guests clearly didn't echo the sentiment as they twirled across the lawn, down the driveway and into the night.