I touched down on the French Riviera on the morning of the opening ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival knowing that I was entering absolute chaos. The energy and the logistics of the world's most chic film festival are always wild, but I was ready.
I always start my day in Cannes with a run down the Croisette to clear my head before the parties begin.
My first was the Vanity Fair lunch in partnership with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) at the Carlton, a wonderful Belle Époque hotel.
At the Carlton beach, the Mistral wind was blowing like a paid extra, giving drama to my yellow dress from By Keara.
I sat next to Emmett J Scanlan, who was in Peaky Blinders and Kin, and we had a lovely chat; I invited him to bring his kids to see the animals at Longleat. Other guests included Gillian Anderson, Nathan Mitchell from The Boys, Lucas Bravo from Emily in Paris, the musician Cal Harris Jr and the actor Alex Pettyfer.
We were all seated along a table with flowers draped across the centre like a rainbow and had a delicious lunch of courgettes and Mediterranean vegetables.
© Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/GettyOpening gala
Then everyone had to rush off to get ready for the opening night, for which I wore a black silk and chiffon gown.
Caroline Scheufele, the president of Chopard, brought her cavalier spaniel Lord Byron to the festival, but he decided not to walk the red carpet.
I arrived with Caroline at the same time as the Cannes jury member Demi Moore, who is winning on the red carpet this year. She's incredible up close. I also saw Sir Peter Jackson, who was being honoured, and Jane Fonda – she's amazing.
Chopard ladies' dinner
On the evening of day two, we had a ladies’ dinner for Chopard on the terrace of the Hôtel Martinez. The former First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, was there. She was super-sweet and charming – she's got the X factor. She sang beautifully in both French and English. One of her songs was a cover of the Willie Nelson track Crazy.
It was all women, including the chef Fanny Rey, who prepared green zebra tomato and Mediterranean sea bream, served with Château Lilian Ladouys and Sancerre.
Later still, we rushed to the Burberry party at the Hôtel Belles Rives in Antibes, where F Scott Fitzgerald wrote Tender Is the Night. I saw the label’s creative director Daniel Lee and gave him a big hug.
I met the cast of the new series of The While Lotus, which includes Australians such as Caleb Jonte Edwards. I said: "I've got koalas [at Longleat], so if you come to the UK, come and see me."
Everyone was drinking margaritas, although I don't really drink that much. I just drink for energy, and one Aperol will last me a long time.
Back to the family
I often split Cannes in two, so that I can fly back to the UK in the middle of the festival for family time and to squeeze in some school pick-ups. When I’m at home, I change straight back into my joggers and hoodie and I'm into boy-mother mode.
We had Freddie and Sophie Windsor over for cucumber sandwiches. Freddie loves sandwiches. He had made a very good catch while playing cricket the day before. The children played and threw pillows all over the place.
AmfAR party
After a trip to Longleat, it was back to the Riviera for the amfAR event. I wore a navy blue dress and carried my new Aspinal clutch with floral embroidery. After getting ready, I was honoured to travel to the party with Chopard’s Caroline Scheufele and the actor William Abadie from Emily in Paris.
I chatted to Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick and his wife, Amy Jackson, who had travelled to France with their new baby, and also bumped into Ayda Field Williams, who was there to watch her husband, Robbie Williams, perform live.
© Getty ImagesLizzo, who got everyone dancing before dinner, thanked everyone for their work and celebrated the LGBT community.
It has been a sensational year. If it's a cliche to call it a whirlwind, then perhaps I should say it was my Mistral. It was a pleasure to blow in and blow out.
