Kate Sparkles in Green Jenny Packham for Royal Variety Performance

It was an evening of entertainment, star-studded performers and glamour at the annual Royal Variety Performance.

It was a glittering arrival.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled to the Royal Albert Hall for the second time in less than a week. On Saturday they attended the venue for the annual Festival of Remembrance with members of the Royal family.

Indeed, it's been an important year for the iconic concert hall -- it's 150 years since Queen Victoria opened the Royal Albert Hall. The monarch attended as a tribute to her late husband, Prince Albert, and to see his dream of a hall promoting the arts in London come to fruition.

As a visibly upset Queen Victoria began to speak at the opening, she said, "I have to express my great admiration of this beautiful Hall and my earnest wishes for its complete success." It was Victoria's wish the hall would bear Albert's name, deviating from the initial plan to name it the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences.

I imagine it would greatly please Victoria and Albert to know, 150 years later, the hall remains an iconic and much-loved landmark for the arts. A space enjoyed by their descendants and people from all over the world.

The Royal Variety Performance takes place every year and is held in aid of the Royal Variety Charity.

Funds raised from the show help hundreds of entertainers throughout the UK, who are in need of help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times. Kensington Palace said, "In 2021, the Royal Variety Charity has continued to support members of the entertainment industry with its own nationwide grants scheme, assisting many people who have found this past year a particularly difficult one. The Royal Variety Charity also continues to manage its own care home, Brinsworth House in Twickenham. The nursing and care staff have ensured that the home remains a place of safety, peace, and happiness for retired members of the entertainment industry. The residents are now back showing off their own theatrical skills and even producing and performing their own stage shows."

Kate was presented with the winter posy 'A golden age of Christmas at Brinsworth House', with foliage from the garden of the Royal Variety Charity care home.

Hosted by Alan Carr, this year's line up saw Ed Sheeran, Sir Rod Stewart, the cast of Matilda the Musical, Anne Marie, Years and Years, the cast of Cirque du Soleil, James Blunt, the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, and the Messoudi Brothers take to the stage. The evening will also feature performances from Gregory Porter and Elvis Costello, as well as a special collaboration by actress Keala Settle and the Some Voices choir.

The Duke and Duchess take their seats.

Sky News reports:

'Comedian Alan Carr told Prince William he was "not hitting on his wife" after complimenting Kate at the Royal Variety Performance.

Greeting the couple at the show at Royal Albert Hall, Mr Carr told Kate: "You look absolutely beautiful."

Addressing the duke, the star then said: "Sir, I am sure you do not know who I am, but I am not hitting on your wife."

The Royal Variety Performance dates back all the way to 1912, when the inaugural performance was watched by King George V and Queen Mary. In July 1919, a second royal show was performed. Held at London Coliseum, the show was staged as a 'celebration of peace' and, as the official announcement expressed it, "Had been commanded by the King to show his appreciation of the generous manner in which artistes of the variety stage had helped the numerous funds connected with the War."

A poster from the 1930 performance.

In fact, this year is particularly special as it marks the centenary of the reigning monarch being patron. It is believed to be one of the few charities in the UK that has an unbroken line of patronage from the reigning monarch. Below, Her Majesty at the 2012 performance.

Though the event remains black-tie, it was once an occasion which called for a tiara. Below, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arriving for the 1955 show in Blackpool. Her Majesty has attended 39 performances.

A reminder of the night's entertainment in 1955 from the Royal Variety website:

'The first of the two Royal Varity Performances of 1955 – and the first ever staged outside the capital – featured many acts familiar to Blackpool audiences. The organised Reginald Dixon who has become a popular resident in the Tower Ballroom was there, with the signature tune he made all his own, ‘I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside’. Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss delighted their fans as usual. From the Tower Circus came the Musical Clowns Charlie Cairoli and Paul, while George Formby and the American star Eddie Fisher added to the star-studded line-up, along with Arthur Askey and couple of young comedians by the name of Morecambe and Wise.

The highlight slapstick act of the evening belonged to the consummate comedians, Lauri Lupino Lane and George Truzzi, who treated the Blackpool audience to their celebrated paper-hanging routine. This was centred round two people trying to paste a piece of wall-paper on a wall with different coloured paste. The consequences can be imagined, and at the end of it both comics had to have a good wash-down before next appearing on stage.'

A video.

William and Kate invited special guests. Hello! reports:

'Seated to the left of the Duchess were her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, as well as her brother James and his new wife, Alizée Thevenet, who he married back in September in an intimate ceremony in France.'

There's an image of Carole, Mike, James and Alizée in this tweet. I haven't seen other photos yet.

This evening marks the Cambridges' fourth outing at the Royal Variety. They first attended in 2014 when Kate repeated her black lace DVF gown. In 2017, the Duchess debuted a sparkling blue Jenny Packham design. In 2019 it was a bespoke Alexander McQueen gown with lace overlay and puffed sleeves. I've loved all of Kate's Royal Variety looks, and the sense of tradition and continuity associated with the event.

A couple of readers suggested including photos/fashion information on previous appearances for regular calendar events. It's an excellent idea and one I'll be implementing.

Kate's been repeating a number of memorable pieces from her closet lately. She continued that trend this evening to the delight of Jenny Packham fans. The shade of green has quite a lovely festive feel to it (it's not too soon to mention Christmas :)).

The Duchess debuted the glittering green gown in Pakistan in 2019. It was originally worn with a scarf in reference to the traditional Dupatta.

The gown is a custom version of the Georgia style. The £3,640 sequin dress is from the Autumn/Winter 2019 Collection and described as: "Fitted with a tailored waistline which is further accentuated with a row of crystals, the utterly feminine design is dripping in head-to-toe sequins, delivering an audacious amount of unapologetic glamour."

Gabi suggests Kate's new green clutch is also a Packham piece. It makes sense, as it appears to match the gown perfectly.

The Duchess accessorised with a pair of earrings also debuted during the Pakistan tour -- her Missoma Zenyu Gold Chandelier earrings. They retail for £125.

Kate's statement lip and wavy locks looked fabulous with the dress.

The Duchess completed the look with green pumps. They look like her Emmy London Rebecca shoes.

A great night and a nice start to the royal festive season!