The Duchess in Green Jenny Packham & Stunning Emeralds for the BAFTAs

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the glittering EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall tonight.

The couple made their debut at the event last year for the 70th awards ceremony. Prince William has been President of the Academy since 2010, and both he and the Duchess have supported BAFTA�s charitable activities by attending events across the charity�s learning programme, including Young Game Designers and BAFTA Kids events, as well as others related to building cross-cultural collaborations with the creative industries in China.

William and Kate walked the red carpet.

The scene at the Royal Albert Hall.

Ahead of the ceremony Kensington Palace said: "While BAFTA is well known for celebrating excellence and championing creativity through its awards, it is a charity committed to identifying talented individuals, and making sure they receive the encouragement, professional support and advice that will enable them to succeed, regardless of their background or other circumstances. In addition to its awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round learning and new talent programme, including a campaign to support young people from all backgrounds entering the film, games and television industries, which the Duke helped relaunch in 2013, and a scholarships programme, which features the 'Prince William Scholarships in Film, Games and Television'."

The glittering BAFTA Awards is a star-studded celebration of achievements in film, commending the finest performances and movies of the year. It is considered one of the biggest nights on the entertainment calendar. Contenders for Best Film this year include Dunkirk, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Darkest Hour, Call Me By Your Name and The Shape of Water.

More from Variety:

Nominated in the lead actress category are Annette Bening for �Film Stars Don�t Die in Liverpool,� Frances McDormand for �Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,� Margot Robbie for �I, Tonya,� Sally Hawkins for �The Shape of Water,� and Saoirse Ronan for �Lady Bird.�

Competing for the lead actor title are Daniel Day-Lewis for �Phantom Thread,� Daniel Kaluuya for �Get Out,� Gary Oldman for �Darkest Hour,� Jamie Bell for �Film Stars Don�t Die in Liverpool,� and Timoth�e Chalamet for �Call Me by Your Name.�

Before the ceremony, William and Kate met BAFTA nominees.

The BAFTA award trophy is a mask designed by American sculptor, Mitzi Cunliffe. When the Guild merged with the British Film Academy to become the Society of Film and Television Arts, later the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the first 'BAFTA award' was presented to Sir Charles Chaplin on his Academy Fellowship that year.

A video of William and Kate arriving.

Inside the Albert Hall. pic.twitter.com/2LTNr5WpUf
� Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) February 18, 2018

The Duke and Duchess take their seats.

The show began with a breathtaking performance inspired by The Shape of Water.

What a breathtaking performance.

This is @Cirque du Soleil's OVO inspired by The Shape of Water. #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/VBmgKf6sD2
� BBC (@BBC) February 18, 2018

Three Billboards was the big winner taking home five awards including Best Film, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri wins Best Film ?? #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/8rua4VETlh
� BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 18, 2018

Prince William presented the Fellowship Award. It is awarded annually at the ceremony, and is the highest accolade bestowed by the Academy to an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games. The recipient of this year�s Fellowship was British filmmaker, Sir Ridley Scott.

William's speech:

Catherine and I are extremely pleased to be here amongst you all this evening.

The Film Awards are just one part of BAFTA's activity. I have been privileged over the years to experience first-hand the impact of its work in the United Kingdom, in Los Angeles, New York and Asia - work ranging from scholarships and supporting new talent, through to masterclasses with the very best in the industry - many of whom are here this evening.

Your support of BAFTA - sharing skills, expertise and time - means we can ensure the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. It ensures that we can do much, much more to help talented people from all backgrounds to be given the opportunity to succeed.

The recipient of this year's Fellowship - the highest honour the Academy can bestow - is a true cinema great. His films are amongst my own personal favourites! A director and producer whose work has engaged audiences for 40 years and whose creativity continues to inspire the vital next generation of talent...

Please welcome to the stage, Sir Ridley Scott.

William and Kate met nominees and winners after the show.

More from The Telegraph:

The Duchess told Lee Unkrich, the director of Coco which won best animated film, that her husband and son could now bond over watching films. �I'm desperate to see it,� she said of Coco, a Pixar animation about a boy who wants to be a musician helped by his great-great-grandfather from the land of the dead. �Lots of girlfriends have been to see it with their kiddies and been really impressed with it.

�They [Prince George and Princess Charlotte] are just getting into films now, George is four-and-a-half. Paddington is definitely up there and now Coco. �It's great obviously because of William's interest in film, it's great to have that father-son thing.�

The Duke, in conversation on stage after most Bafta guests had left for the formal dinner, said he had �loved� Baby Driver, adding: �I love the music as well and he drives like a legend.�

Whilst this is a night of glamour and entertainment, there was another significance to the ceremony tonight and indeed the 2018 awards season thus far. Several weeks ago, a number of leading Hollywood actresses decided to wear black for the event in solidarity with the Time's Up movement. Actors and activists have collaborated to support the UK Justice and Equality Fund. This is a new body that will provide a network of expert advice, support and advocacy organizations across the UK. Emma Watson has already donated �1M. The fund has already raised over �1.5 million. Below, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek and Lily James tonight.

A host of stars including Watson, Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet, Claire Foy, Rosamund Pike, Saoirse Ronan, Tessa Thompson and Naomie Harris released a letter, Sisters, this is our moment to say Time's Up. Below, a portion of the piece:

Dear Sisters,

A little over a month ago Time�s Up was launched. You might have read a public letter in the New York Times. You may have noticed women wearing black on the red carpet. You might have seen women coming forward to share their stories of harassment. Maybe you identified with some of the stories these women shared.

Maybe you found yourself nodding as you recalled similar moments in your own life.

Here in the UK, this movement is at a critical juncture. The gender pay gap for women in their 20s is now five times greater than it was six years ago. Research in the UK has found that more than half of all women said they have experienced sexual harassment at work. A growing reliance on freelance work forces creates power relationships which are conducive to harassment and abuse. Those engaged in insecure contract work are especially vulnerable to exploitation. While we know women are disproportionately affected by this abuse, we also know there are men in our industry and others that have been subjected to harassment and abuse as part of this system of patriarchal power. And they too have been silenced.

So, what is our industry�s role in promoting a vision of an equal society? We believe it is huge. We believe we need to use our power as communicators and connectors to shift the way society sees and treats us. We need to examine the kind of womanhood our industry promotes and sells to the world.

There is no question that Time�s Up should be and will be a global movement. A movement that is defined and led by those affected by the problem, not by those in power. As we approach the Baftas � our industry�s time for celebration and acknowledgment, we hope we can celebrate this tremendous moment of solidarity and unity across borders by coming together and making this movement international. Perhaps Time�s Up seems a million miles away to you � started by a group of women with privilege. The truth is, we are all workers, and whether we�re in the limelight or in the shadows, our voices matter. With our collective power, we can galvanize others.

In a foreword for the programme William referenced the movement:

'As president, I am proud of the leadership BAFTA has shown; in a year which rocked the industry as many brave people spoke up about bullying, harassment and abuse despite the risk to their professional careers and reputations.'

Reporters described Kate's sartorial choice for the night as a "diplomatic minefield". The Royal family has a strict policy of avoiding anything which could be construed as a political statement. Whatever Kate chose to wear tonight it was going to be the topic of headlines and conversation. I would have loved to see Kate in black tonight; any woman who has experienced sexual harassment or knows someone who has is acutely aware it's a systemic problem across all industries; it's certainly not limited to Hollywood. Wearing black through the awards season will not change the deeply rooted problems; I do hope it's a step in the right direction though, and a show of solidarity from the future queen would have been appreciated. Perhaps in time it will be remembered as a missed opportunity for Kate. Equally, I am uncomfortable with the vilification of women who don't conform to certain expectations and perhaps it was felt wearing black tonight would create those expectations for future movements and campaigns. Ultimately, feminism is all about choice and given her position I can understand her choice tonight. It's not a decision which would have been made lightly or without the advice of aides. I imagine it was felt the subdued green with black accessories was the best compromise. The dark green Jenny Packham gown features a deep v neckline and a black sash, which has been seen as a subtle nod to the movement.