William and Kate charge couples £32000 each for dinner

• Posted on December 8, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

It is the most hotly anticipated Royal visit since the days of Princess Diana. Huge crowds, heart-warming photo opportunities and a meeting with the President are all on the schedule.

But when, later today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge start their whirlwind New York tour, they will have another, rather more confidential objective in mind.

For tonight, at a lavish reception at a private residence from which the press is barred, Kate and William will shake the hands of 15 wealthy couples who are each paying $50,000 –– or £32,000 – for the privilege. It is the start of an important US campaign which they hope will pull in millions for their favourite charities.

A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The dinner on the first night is essentially a fundraiser. The people William and Kate will be meeting are not celebrities but seriously wealthy hedge fund types and financiers.’

The event will be hosted by British advertising mogul Sir Martin Sorrell and his wife Cristiana at their vast apartment in mid-town Manhattan.

Sir Martin, whose WPP Group is one of the world’s biggest marketing companies, earned £30 million last year. His stake in the business is worth £260 million.

The guests have been asked to dress for cocktails, with drinks at 6.30pm followed by dinner at 7.30pm. They will be served by about eight royal staff.

The money will go to the Royal Foundation, the charity run by the couple and Prince Harry which gives grants to good causes such as Tusk, the wildlife protection charity.

‘William and Kate are principally there to meet and greet and to raise money for the foundation,’ the source added. ‘The couples attending are being asked to pay thousands of dollars to be there, and there is a lot of talk about cash for access.’

DailyMail