
Dressed in a metallic dress and platinum heels, the Duchess of Cambridge dazzled as she stepped out with Prince William for a Buckingham Palace reception tonight.

The royal couple joined the Queen and Prince Philip as they hosted an evening celebrating Britain's close ties with India, marking the launch of the UK-India Year of Culture 2017.

The royals greeted a glittering line-up of high-profile sports stars, actors, musicians, politicians and diplomats at the festive affair, which was brought to life with the sights, smells and tastes of India.

Outside a giant peacock - the national bird of India - was projected onto the facade of Buckingham Palace, allowing passing Londoners to feel part of the celebrations.

Scroll down for video

Tender: Kate placed a hand on her husband's back as he admired a display of priceless artefacts from the Royal Collection

Lighting up the room: The Duchess of Cambridge paired her stunning Erdem dress with £590 Oscar de la Renta pumps

Beaming: The Queen flashed a smile as she greeted a glittering line-up of guests from the worlds of sports and entertainment

Dazzling: The Duchess of Cambridge, left, put her best foot forward in glittering pumps, right

The Queen greets Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at the reception at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace was illuminated with an image of a peacock - the national bird of India - made up of dancing figures

Elegant in a purple Stewart Parvin dress, the Queen was accompanied by her family, including Prince Edward and Princess Eugenie, as she entered the glittering White Drawing Room.

The monarch first met a small line up of dignitaries including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, the Indian Finance Minister and Sir Dominic Asquith, the British High Commissioner to India.

However it was the Duchess of Cambridge who stole the show, lighting up the room in a radiant in a gold metallic and pink silk dressby Erdem and £590 platinum pumps by A-list favourite Oscar de la Renta.

She accessorised the look with a pair of drop earrings by Indian designer Anita Dongre. The duchess wore one of Miss Dongre's design during her visit to Mumbai last year.

Kate and Prince William looked relaxed and very much in love as they spent time meeting the distinguished guests. At one point the duchess placed a hand affectionately on her husband's back in a rare show of tenderness.

Actress Ayesha Dharker, Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev, sitar player Anoushka Shankar – daughter of the legendary Ravi Shankar – and her husband, director Joe Wright, were among those who attended.

British-Indian actor Kunal Nayyar, who stars in hit US series the Big Bang Theory, explained how he initially thought the invite to the event was a practical joke.

Radiant: The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to chef Vikas Khanna, right, at the lavish event

Elegant: In a nod to the celebration of India, the duchess sported a pair of earrings by Indian designer Anita Dongre

The Queen greets Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, and his wife

Animated: The Duke of Cambridge entertained guests with a story as he spent time with his wife at the event

Light-hearted: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked in excellent spirits as they chatted to guests together

The Queen meets Sukanya Shankar, left, and sitar player Anoushka Shankar, centre, daughter of the legendary Ravi Shankar

WILLIAM AND KATE ADMIRE FAMILY TREASURES As part of the reception, a number of priceless artefacts from the Royal Collection were put on display in the palace Picture Gallery. Among them was a shawl woven by Ghandi on his loom as a wedding present for Princess Elizabeth in 1947. The shawl has the words Jai Hind - Hail India- in the centre and was accompanied by a hand-written note from Ghandi, addressed to Lord Mountbatten, then Viceroy of India, which read: 'The little thing is made out of doubled yarn of my own spinning.... please give the bride and the bridegroom this with my blessing with the wish that they would have a log and happy life of service of man.....Yours sincerely, MK ' Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge spent time admiring the shawl during their tour of the gallery. Wedding gift: This shawl, left, was woven by Mahatma Ghandi on his loom as a gift for Princess Elizabeth. Right, the accompanying note Family history: The Royal couple looked at the shawl, seen hanging up on display, while looking at a collection of royal artefacts Advertisement

'It was overwhelming,' he said. 'I got an email in my personal inbox and at first I thought it was one of my friends spamming me. I replied and it turned out to be real. It's incredible.

'The evening has just been overwhelming as I got to meet the Queen and to promote UK-Indian culture, which gives me so much pride. I did get to speak to the Queen and she said how nice it was to meet me again.

'I haven't actually met her before so maybe she was confused or has just watched The Big Bang Theory! I just shook her hand, bowed my head and said thank you so much for inviting us.

Princess Eugenie introduces her grandmother to Aloka Mitra, the founder of Women's Interlink Foundation

The monarch looked elegant in purple Stewart Parvin as she chatted to two guests who stunned in traditional dress in shades of pink

The Duke of Edinburgh looked in typically jovial spirits as he chatted to guests at the event

Prince William smiles as he works the line up followed closely by his wife The Duchess of Cambridge

He added: 'The Queen is the Queen and has done such wonderful things for communities all over the world. ' Its not just the aura, it is what she has done for trade, building bridges, building relations.

'It can get lost sometimes in gossip magazines but the truth is that the good they do is remarkable. It is not just pomp and circumstances.'

The actor, who is married to model Neha Kapur, was born in Hounslow, west London, before moving to New Delhi with his parents. He now lives in Los Angeles.

Kate kept her hair look simple for the event, keeping her loose curls in a half up-do

The Duchess of Cambridge looked in excellent spirits as she chatted with guests, lighting up the room with her metallic dress

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted a number of high-profile guests at the palace

Princess Eugenie, left, opted for a simple long-sleeved black dress for the reception, hosted by her grandmother the Queen

Ms Dharker said she had to pinch herself as she drove through the gates of Buckingham Palace.

She said: 'From the moment the card arrived with all that beautiful symbols on.....things like that don't turn up in my post everyday. Then you get here and walk from room to room and you feel like you have stepped through the mirror and are Alice in Wonderland.

'I got the chance to say hello, which was lovely. India and the UK have a very special relationship. It's a bit like a marriage, complicated, with it's ups and downs....like any great love story. There is such fierce connection between the two cultures. It's a relationship that feels like it has grown up and come of age.'

Kate looked on especially good form as she caught up with guests, sipping on a glass of what appeared to be fruit juice

The Queen threw open the doors of Buckingham Palace this evening to welcome guests in celebration of the UK's unique ties with India

William and Kate looked on as the Queen greeted her guests at the UK-India reception

During the evening Princess Eugenie took the opportunity to personally introduce the Queen to the head of one of the organisations she works with, Aloka Mitra of the Women's Interlink Foundation.

The charity helps trafficked and exploited girls and young women learn to produce textiles and find a career. Their scarves are now sold here by stores including Top Shop.

The theme of the night was reflected in the canapes on offer, with guests having the choice of spice-rich delicacies or traditional western-style morsels.

Mark Flanagan, head chef at Buckingham Palace's kitchens, and Uday Salunkhe, executive chef at Veeraswamy, said to be the UK's oldest Indian restaurant, led their respective teams as they spent six weeks devising the menu.

The team of 15 palace staff and five from the restaurant made just under 5,000 canapés for the guests.

Prince Edward, right, speaks to actresses Preeya Kalidas (left) and Ayesha Dharker, as he greets the high-profile guests at the reception

Actor Kunal Nayyar and his wife Indian model Neha Kapur, left, and actress Ayesha Dharker, right, arrive at the palace

The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in a metallic Erdem dress, which featured a pleated design and belted waist

Retired cricket player Kapil Dev, left, and actress Nina Wadia, right, were among the stars invited to the reception

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson looks at a shawl given to Queen Elizabeth II by Mahatma Gandhi as a wedding gift

Raj puri - fried unleavened bread with yoghurt herbs - and boondi chocolate rock, fried chickpea flour kernels covered in chocolate, were served alongside salmon blinis and rhubarb and creme brulee tartlets.

Laid out in the palace Picture Gallery was a display of priceless artefacts from the Royal Collection including a shawl woven by Ghandi on his loom as a wedding present for Princess Elizabeth in 1947.

The shawl has the words Jai Hind - Hail India- in the centre and was accompanied by a hand-written note from Ghandi, addressed to Lord Mountbatten, then Viceroy of India, which said: 'The little thing is made out of doubled yarn of my own spinning.... please give the bride and the bridegroom this with my blessing with the wish that they would have a log and happy life of service of man.....Yours sincerely, MK '

There were also several painting and manuscripts dating back to the 17th Century - some of which may not have been seen in public since - and a welcoming garland presented to the Queen when she visited India in 1961, the first by a reigning monarch for 50 years and the first time since independence.

Resplendent in traditional dress, a troupe of dancers entertain the guests with a performance on the steps of the palace

A peacock, the national bird of India, with feathers made from dancing figures was projected on to the palace tonight

The Queen's first State Visit to India, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, was in 1961 as the guests of Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India.

She visited Raj Ghat, the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, where she left a tribute of a wreath of 500 roses and planted a tree.

The landmark link-up celebrates the deep cultural ties between the two countries and the 70th anniversary of India's Independence through a year-long programme of events and exhibitions.

Organised by the British Council together with the Indian High Commission in London, it aims to inspire people to celebrate the 'long-standing relationship and vibrant cultural history' between the UK and India– a particularly crucial relationship for post-Brexit Britain.

Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, centre, Chef Uday Salumkhe, right, and Chef Ayetar Nayak, prepare some of the 5,000 canapes for the glittering line-up of guests at the reception tonight

A chef from Indian restaurant Veeraswamy prepares some of the fusion canapes for the event

Pineapple and Almod Halwa Tart with Raspberry was among the dessert canapes on offer

Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, left and Chef Uday Salumkhe, second from left, with sous-chefs