The Duchess of Cambridge’s new personal stylist attended an Indian-themed fancy dress party with several friends in blackface, MailOnline can reveal.
Virginia ‘Ginnie’ Chadwyck-Healey, 36, formerly the retail editor for British Vogue, was seen partying with several members of the Royal inner circle, alongside revellers in brown face-paint.
Her husband Oliver Chadwyck-Healey, who attended Eton and became part of William’s inner circle at St Andrew’s University, was pictured with his face painted brown.
Oliver Baker, Prince George’s godfather, and Ed Gribbon, who shared a house with the Cambridges during their university days, both attended.
Also present were Verity Roache, daughter of Coronation Street legend Bill Roache, and Mark Griffith-Jones, now a director of Sotheby’s.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s new stylist Virginia ‘Ginnie’ Chadwyck-Healey, 36, pictured left, was seen partying with her husband, Oliver, who wore brown face-paint, right, at a party in 2007
Ginnie wore a blue headdress, right, at the Indian themed fancy dress party while other guests sported turbans, colonial-era military uniforms and suits
Several revellers turned up to the party with dark face-paint smeared on them and embraced the theme with their brightly coloured outfits. Ginnie is pictured at the front of this selfie
Photographs from the event show them all wearing Indian costume, with a number smeared in dark face-paint.
One man had interpreted the theme more widely, and arrived wearing a tea towel on his head to resemble traditional Arab dress.
Neither Kate nor Prince William are believed to have been there.
Ms Chadwyck-Healey is one of the Dutchess’ university friends from their time at St Andrews, where both read History of Art. The party, which took place in 2007, catered for about 100 friends and contemporaries.
Other people at the party included Coronation Street legend Bill Roache’s daughter Verity, pictured centre, who wore a patterned white tunic and sat next to Ginnie, pictured right
Prince George’s godfather Oliver Baker, pictured, was also spotted at the 2007 party wearing an Indian costume
The Duchess of Cambridge’s school friend Ginnie is seen smiling inbetween Michael Graham, left in red, and another man who has darkened his face for the themed event
The revellers were pictured in flamboyant outfits, headscarves and turbans, while some wore colonial-era military uniforms and suits.
Prince George’s future godfather wore a gold Indian outfit and turban, while Mr Gribbon was pictured embracing a friend in blackface.
The Duchess recently drafted Ms Chadwyck-Healey – who was spotted at her wedding at Westminster Abbey in 2011 – as her ‘secret weapon’ to freshen up her wardrobe.
Ed Gribbon, centre, who shared a house with the Cambridges during their university days was also present at the party 12 years ago
The Duchess recently drafted Ms Chadwyck-Healey, left with Michael Graham centre and Ed Gribbon on the right, as her ‘secret weapon’ to freshen up her wardrobe
The guests, middle is Ed Gribbon and right is Michael Graham with an unknown man on the left, posed for several photographs at the party while wearing their Indian inspired outfits
‘Ginnie is Catherine’s secret weapon,’ a royal source said. ‘She has made a big difference to the Duchess’s wardrobe for public engagements and has helped give her a whole new sense of confidence.
‘Catherine has been really impressed and is very grateful for her help.’
Ginnie is the daughter of the 3rd Lord Strathalmond and has two daughters, Nancy, four, and Maggie, two, with her Old Etonian husband, Oliver Chadwyck-Healey.
Mother-of-two Ginnie, right with Verity Roach centre and another guest left, was formerly the retail editor for British Vogue and left in 2018 after 12 years
The party, some guests pictured left and right, catered for about 100 people. Neither Kate nor Prince William are believed to have been there
Others seen at the fancy dress party included another University of St. Andrews graduate Mark Griffith-Jones, pictured, who is now a director of Sotheby’s
Natasha Archer, who usually helps Kate with her wardrobe, is presently on maternity leave.
Ginnie, who left Vogue in 2018 after 12 years, wrote about her experience at William and Kate’s wedding.
‘To my great surprise, I found myself included in the fashion reviews as one of the “best-dressed wedding guests”,’ boasted Ginnie, who wore an Emilia Wickstead watermelon pink skirt and a bubblegum pink trapeze-sleeve silk top.
‘Royal protocol had to come first, but I wanted to feel like I had an identity amid the sea of celebrities, friends, military personnel, foreign members of state and, of course, the Royal Family.’
Ginnie, pictured right at the 2007 party, is the daughter of the 3rd Lord Strathalmond and has two daughters, Nancy, four, and two-year-old Maggie
Partygoers at the event, pictured left is Ginnie, wore flamboyant outfits and bright colours
But she added: ‘To my mother’s horror, I didn’t wear tights.’
Evidence of Ms Chadwyck-Healey’s influence on the Dutchess’ wardrobe has already been noted.
During a recent trip to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre in Lambeth, she teamed flattering wide leg trousers from Jigsaw with a Gucci pussybow blouse.
And the Duchess has also introduced block heel boots into her repertoire, despite previously favouring a stiletto heel.
Ms Chadwyck-Healey has recently launched her own styling company VCH Style.
Fashion forward: The Duchess of Cambridge wore her Gucci blouse backwards for a visit to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre in London
Ms Chadwyck-Healey, left at Ascot in 2017 and right at a fashion event in 2015, is one of the Dutchess’ university friends from their time at St Andrews, where both read History of Art
Ginnie, pictured with Prince William during a reception at the ‘Chelsea Gardener’ garden centre in aid of the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2008, also attended the royal couples’ wedding