"This new joint initiative is based on our shared vision and commitment to transform the lives of thousands of young people. I know that I am very fortunate. I've had a good education, a secure home and a loving and supportive family. So many young people, however, do not have these advantages and, as a result, can lack the confidence and knowledge to realize their full potential."

 

Our royal correspondent Paul Harrison was at the event.

 

A big night out, their first big official public night out for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the ARK 10th annual gala black-tie fund-raising dinner, and that's exactly what it's all about tonight. What you're seeing is Arpad Busson, who is one of the funders of ARK, that effectively has a similar goal as the Prince's foundation and that is to raise as much money for, in ARK's case, certainly young children around the world, not just here in the UK. And we're talking about potentially raising as much as 40 million pounds tonight alone, and that was the figure that they raised last year. Arpad Busson told us on the way and that he hoped that they'd be able to raise somewhere in the region of around five million more than that. That was the sense that you got from him, and he put that at the door of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge because they are here. It's a big coup for ARK to have them here as their special guests. They are sitting on a table, a top table of around about 26 or so VIPs. Among them are some of the people who have very deep pockets who will certainly no doubt be bidding and helping raising money tonight.