A Moving Moment

Sad that after years of service in virtually every position Lord Richard Attenborough has had to resign as President of BAFTA due to ill health. HRH Prince William –his replacement was present last night to give the most prestigious award of Academy Fellowship to Vanessa Redgrave.

We had just seen the pictures of all who had died during the last year including Vanessa’s daughter Natasha Richardson who died in a skiing accident. Vanessa just 73 – a lifelong Republican - walked up onto the stage and, balancing her left arm on Prince William’s right arm gave the deepest, most beautiful curtsy with head bowed that I have ever seen, which blurred my vision somewhat.

She told William how she admired his father for the great work he did and that she had received an award from his mother Princess Diana.

Previously Uma Thurman had given a eulogy to Vanessa and both she and William stood on stage whilst Vanessa expressed her appreciation

‘You’ve done for me.’ she said struggling to maintain composure and she spoke simply and truly about her grand parents and her parents both stars in the acting firmament. The audience rose to acknowledge such courage and grace to say nothing of her incandescent talent.

That photographs below shot off dash board unbidden and are of Vanessa Redgrave, Uma Thurman and Prince W