Royal couple at film premiere as anniversary nears

William and Kate were dazzled by flashguns as they arrived for the screening of the nature documentary raising funds for the Duke’s UK-based animal conservation charity Tusk Trust.

The royal couple celebrate their first wedding anniversary on Sunday. Kate was wearing a Matthew Williamson grey dress, with three-quarter-length sleeves and coloured, beaded detail around the neck and sleeves.

Mark Knopfler, lead singer of the group Dire Straits, was among the guests along with filmmaker Guy Ritchie and Dragons’ Den judge Deborah Meaden, a patron of Tusk Trust.

The wildlife film tells the story of life on Kenya’s plains for a pride of lions and a family of cheetahs as they battle for survival.

Hollywood star Patrick Stewart narrates the true-life story of cheetah Sita bringing up her five cubs in the Masai Mara game reserve and of Mara, a six month-old lion cub being raised by her mother Layla.

William has said he loves Africa, its people and wildlife, and has worries about the current animal welfare crisis that has seen poachers once again looking to profit from elephant ivory and rhino horns.

Demand from consumers in the Far East and China has seen prices for the ivory from endangered animals rise significantly in recent years.

Charlie Mayhew, co-founder of Tusk Trust which has William as its royal patron, said about the Duke: “He’s passionate about Africa and ... he’s very concerned about the current crisis.”