Waterloo provides a glamorous platform for Ark fundraiser

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Delicious Miss Dahl: Sophie looks as elegant as ever

The station's former Eurostar platforms were transformed into an arcadian dream world, where 800 guests — others included Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Elisabeth Murdoch — dined on kobe beef and chilled Valrohna chocolate and chilli soup and danced to The Killers. Steve Coogan even reprised Alan Partridge for good measure. After all, it was for charity — the Ark (Absolute Return for Kids) organisation founded by hedge fund godfather Arpad "Arkie" Busson. An auction saw an Oscar weekend go for £250,000, as did an African safari on elephants, while pheasant and partridge shooting in Yorkshire raised £180,000.

Excited to see each other: Arpad Busson greets Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece

A bright yellow Fiat 500 car, decorated with butterflies by Damien Hirst, was paired with a customised Vespa scooter, and the lot went for £90,000.

In total £14.1 million was raised, down £1.5 million on last year and more than £10 million short of 2008. The age of austerity may have finally arrived at the most exotic of destinations, but Ark's fundraising tally since 2002 now exceeds £156 million.

Hollywood meets royalty: Uma Thurman with Queen Rania of Jordan

This year's proceeds will be divided between Ark's six London academies and its programmes on improving education in South Africa and fighting disease and tackling maternal mortality in Zambia and Zimbabwe.