Baftas 2017: Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel join Royals on star studded red carpet

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge stole the show as they joined a wealth of stars
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Emma Powell|Jennifer Ruby13 February 2017
The Weekender

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A tour de force of acting talent rubbed shoulders with the Royals as they descended on London’s Royal Albert Hall for the 70th British Academy Film Awards.

Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge stole the show as they joined a wealth of stars for one of the biggest nights on the British showbiz calendar.

The royal couple arrived to huge cheers as they made their way up the red carpet with BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry.

Kate Middleton looked stunning in an off the shoulder Alexander McQueen gown which she teamed with statement earrings, while William opted for a black suit and a bow tie.

Royal arrival: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, attend the 70th EE British Academy Film Awards
Dave Benett

William - who is president of the British academy - presented the fellowship award to Mel Brooks. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the academy and recognises outstanding and exceptional contribution to the big screen. Previous winners include Sidney Poitier, Dame Helen Mirren, Terry Gilliam and Dame Judi Dench.

They were joined by La La Land's Emma Stone who turned heads in a plunging embellished gown which she paired with coordinating trousers.

Nominee: Supporting Actress nominee Naomie Harris arrives in an Audi 

Guests and nominees including Naomie Harris, Eddie Redamyne and Luke Evans were ferried around for the evening by Audi.

Also opting for a revealing neckline was Nicole Kidman, who looked stunning in a black and metallic gown.

Kidman – who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Lion – thanked London for kick starting Lion’s success and praised her co-star Dev Patel.

Speaking about the actor she said: “I’m so happy he’s a leading man now. He’s been given the platform for that.”

Homegrown: Eddie Redmayne arrives at the ceremony 

Patel – who is up for Best Supporting Actor – said he felt “so humble” to have shared a screen with Kidman and described her as a “gracious and supreme human being in every way”.

Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner ignored the legs or chest rule to flash both as she worked the cameras, while Lead Actress nominee Amy Adams opeted to cover up in a green off the shoulder gown.

Laura Whitmore, Carmen Ejogo, Felicity Jones, Jessica Brown Findlay were also undeterred by London's chilly temperatures and stepped out in head turning numbers.

The event attracted a wealth of celebrity couples from Jamie Dornan and his wife Amelia Warner to Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Stunning: Nicole Kidman (Getty Images)
Chris Jackson/Getty Images

BAFTA winner Eddie Redmayne arrived on the arm of his wife Hannah Bagshawe and Thandie Newton put on a romantic display as she cosied up to her husband Ol Parker.

The film has dominated this year’s awards season and recently smashed the record for the most Golden Globes, when it scooped seven gongs last month.

Stephen Fry is hosting the ceremony, which airs on BBC One at 9pm.

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