Parties: Oh my, what a big medal
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The setting for the premiere party of the period piece The Duchess was the suitably magnificent Durbar Court, a covered courtyard in the quiet heart of Whitehall – a venue the PM had signed off on as a "gesture of goodwill to British film".
Perhaps it was the string quartet or the establishment guests (Shadow Chancellor George Osborne here, BBC honcho Alan Yentob there) but everyone stood a little taller, especially Keira Knightley, the Duchess Georgiana herself, still braving the Moschino heels she'd teetered down the red carpet in. After mingling and admiring Olympic kayaker Tim Brabants' gold medal ("So heavy!"), she soon retired with her parents to a quieter room.
Indeed, parents were the accessory of the night. The director, Saul Dibb, brought his ("He's done it all himself, you know," said his father, the documentary-maker Mike), as did Dominic Cooper, who plays Earl Grey, and couldn't help mentioning his disappointment that his speech about the French revolution had been abridged. He even researched it by attending PM's Questions, he said, before being lured away by a tray of mushroom tarts. Roast beef and mini Yorkshires also circulated, and finally passion-fruit confections ("Don't tempt me!" Yentob implored).
Though Dibb was less than forthcoming on how this compared with other premieres ("Never been to any"), everyone else agreed it had been a jolly good show, even if, given there was no gambling and no one's hair caught fire, Georgiana herself might have found it just a little tame.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments