Duchess in red: William and Kate are guests of honour at charity gala

By Rebecca English

Last updated at 3:24 PM on 14th October 2011

The Duchess of Cambridge sizzled in red as she and her husband attended a charity gala last night.

Kate, who wore a red evening gown by Beulah London with billowing sleeves, and William were guests of honour at the black tie do held at St James’s Palace in London by 100 Women in Hedge Funds.

William, 29, is patron of the fundraising City organisation for three years and the event last night raised more than £675,000 for the Child Bereavement Charity, another charity he is personally involved with.

Red hot: Kate, wearing a pillar-box red maxi-length evening gown by Beulah London with billowing sleeves, and Willam at the black tie do held at St James’s Palace in London by 100 Women in Hedge Funds

Since 2009 the Duke has been patron of the body which educates professionals and supports families both when a child dies and when a child is bereaved.

Ann Chalmers, chief executive of the Child Bereavement Charity, was invited to William and Kate's wedding in April.

Miss Chalmers said yesterday: ‘The Child Bereavement Charity is immensely grateful to have been chosen as beneficiary of 100 Women in Hedge Funds London Gala.

‘The funds raised will be transformational in helping us extend our reach to more bereaved children, families and professionals throughout the UK.’

The charity's Chair of the Board Anne Popkin, right, and Executive Director Amanda Pullinger, left, with the Duke and Duchess

In a speech delivered before dinner, William said he felt a ‘quiet pride’ about what both organisations had achieved.

‘I find it enormously rewarding and gratifying to observe how two organisations which mean so much to me are working so superbly with one another,’ he said.

Duke of Cambridge speaks at a fundraising gala

In a speech delivered before dinner, William said he felt a ‘quiet pride’ about what the organisations had achieved

‘What you are both doing together to alleviate the suffering of children who have lost family members, and bereaved families who have experienced the tragedy of losing a child, is beyond praise. ‘

The prince also explained more about the work of The Child Bereavement Charity which, he said, had now directly helped thousands of families and in the past year has trained 5,000 individuals working on the frontline in healthcare, social work and the emergency services.

‘In the course of their professional lives, all of these people are highly likely to benefit first hand from the knowledge and expertise of the Child Bereavement Charity,’ he said.

‘This year too, the Charity has brought its compassion and experience to the aid of bereaved military families, whose children suffer so much - in a way, for all of our sakes. I thank you for doing this from the bottom of my heart.

‘The other half of this great collaboration, 100 Women in Hedge Funds, is ten years old this year. ‘A hundred’ has now grown into 10,000 – I have to say, I’m quite glad you’ve kept the original title: I’m not sure I’d dare turn up to speak to 10, 000 women.’

The second-in-line to the throne is patron of 100 Women in Hedge Funds' charitable initiatives for a three-year period.

The charity has been focusing its fundraising work on three of William's patronages, devoting a year to each.

During 2010 it raised money for Centrepoint, with a similar gala event generating almost £500,000 for the homeless charity. This year it is focusing on the Child Bereavement Charity and in 2012, Skill Force will benefit.

Last night’s event saw 300 female leaders from across the hedge fund industry join William and Kate.