Helen Mirren Guides Procession Of Stars To The Queen At Royal Arts Reception

Last night, Buckingham Palace hosted a star-studded reception for some of the world's most talented stars of stage and screen. The Royal Reception for Dramatic Arts celebrated the Queen's 60 years as patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the contribution of the dramatic arts to national life with a host of showbiz royalty paying the palace a visit.

The Queen Greeted The Hollywood Stars Who Paid Her A Visit At The Palace.

The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, played host to a glittering line-up of stars, including Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Roger Moore, John Hurt, Steve McQueen, Michael Sheen, Helena Bonham Carter, Angela Lansbury, Hugh Laurie, Gemma Arterton, Ralph Fiennes, Timothy Spall, Alan Bennett and Alan Rickman along with the actresses Uma Thurman, Joely Richardson, and Joan Collins.

The stars, both homegrown and from the States, sported their finest attire as they mingled and hobnobbed with royalty. Many of the stars arrived fresh from the celebrations of Sunday BAFTAs ceremony in London, where Helen Mirren and Steve McQueen were particularly notable honorees.

Kate Middleton Was Spotted Wearing Her Red Alexander McQueen Jubilee Dress.

Around 250 guests, including directors, producers, playwrights, teachers and actors, were invited to the event where they met the Queen and Duchess Of Cambridge before watching a a series of performances in the Palace ballroom, according to The Daily Mail.

The Duchess' fashion choice has predictably featured heavily in reportage from the event, as she decided to host wearing the same red, pleated Alexander McQueen dress that she wore to the Jubilee in 2012, proving the piece to be timeless.

Fresh From His 'Best Film' BAFTA Success, Steve McQueen Attended The Royal Reception.

During the reception, the guests were treated to a medley of songs from Oh! What a Lovely War as well as a performance from The Color Purple. Dame Helen Mirren showed off her considerable stage gravitas by performing a floor-level reading from The Tempest whilst the Duchess and the Queen watched from the front row.

The Oscar-winning actress, who received a special honour at the BAFTAs, revealed that she was feeling particularly star-struck in the Queen's presence. "I am genuinely always astounded by her aura, her twinkle, her presence. It never fails to surprise me and again it's what everyone says when they meet her - it was what overwhelmed me the first time I met her," she said.

Dame Helen Mirren Celebrated Her BAFTA Honour With A Trip To The Palace.

Referring to her portrayal of the monarch she added: "I feel like saying I am so sorry and I promise I will stop."

"You're thinking 'its the Queen it's the Queen'," she said, adding that even she felt star-struck."Of course, even more so I think because I feel self-conscious, you know," said Helen, via The Telegraph.