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Queen Elizabeth and Duchess Catherine to host reception


Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Duchess Catherine will host a star-studded reception at Buckingham Palace later this month.

The 87-year-old royal is teaming up with the Duchess of Cambridge, 32, to welcome a host of A-Listers including Dame Helen Mirren, Sir David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett, David Tennant and Benedict Cumberbatch in honour of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) on February 17.

Hello! magazine report they will be joined by a number of other royals including Elizabeth’s husband Prince Philip – known as the Duke of Edinburgh – at the monarch’s London residence.

This event will come only a day after Prince William will attend the BAFTA Awards 2014 which will be held at London’s Royal Opera House.

The Duke of Cambridge – who is President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts – is due to present Mirren with the Fellowship Award in honour of her contribution to the film industry at the ceremony.

Amanda Berry OBE, chief executive of BAFTA, is "delighted" to have the 31-year-old royal – whose grandfather was the organisation’s first president in 1959 – attend the event.

She previously said: "We are delighted to welcome our President back to the EE British Academy Film Awards. The Duke loves film and he is incredibly supportive of the work BAFTA does."