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BEATRICE CELEBRATES HER 18TH IN CLASSIC VICTORIAN STYLE

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17 JULY 2006

Princess Beatrice marked her transition to adulthood by taking a step back in time at the weekend. The teenage royal, who turns 18 in two weeks time, donned a stunning £10,000 dress that had been specially flown in from New York for the 19th century-themed bash in Windsor Castle.

The birthday girl's proud mum Sarah Ferguson helped procure the glittering gown, which featured a voluminous bustle and plunging neckline with intricate gold embroidery. And it was just one of many jaw-dropping outfits on display at the lavish party. Former model Angie Everhart, who was Prince Andrew's date for evening, was sporting a tight black corset and matching skirt. Silver screen bombshell Demi Moore, who was accompanied by husband Ashton Kutcher, evidently found her Victorian-style white ballgown a little uncomfortable, though, as she slipped away half way through the night and then returned in jeans and a t-shirt.

Among the other showbiz stars who went along to the celebration were Elle Macpherson, and Ozzy Osbourne's children Jack and Kelly. And although some of Beatrice's friends were no doubt disappointed her cousins William and Harry couldn't make it along, they took comfort in the fact Monaco's royal hearth-throb Andrea Casiraghi was on hand to set hearts aflutter.

The guests were treated to a champagne reception in the Waterloo Chamber before Prince Andrew gave a moving speech during dinner in St George's Hall. Afterwards the 300-strong crowd of revellers danced the night away as Windsor Castle was filled with the sounds of hip-hop and dance music.

Beatrice wasn't the only princess celebrating a birthday over the weekend, as Sweden's future queen, Crown Princess Victoria, was also marking her big day. The enormously popular royal, who turned 29 on Friday, was greeted by 3,000 well-wishers when she emerged from Solliden, the family's summer retreat, to meet her fans.