Charles watched the performances from the 'gentlemen's rooms' box

Actors Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes, co-stars in the film Shakespeare In Love, treated guests to the "gallop apace" scene from Romeo and Juliet and Romeo's farewell, in separate performances.

The charity gala evening raised at least �100,000 ($157,000) for The Prince's Trust, which helps disadvantaged young people.

Guests paid between �20 and �300 pounds ($470) to attend the one-off spectacle.

All-star cast

Also taking to the stage were veteran actors Timothy West and Paul Schofield, who performed an excerpt from The Tempest.

Dame Diana Rigg recited the "All the world's a stage" speech from As You Like It.

The Kumars at Number 42 star Sanjeev Bhaskar took on one of Shakespeare's best known comic characters as Bottom from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The English Chamber Orchestra provided the music for the event.

Oscar history

Actors David Oyelowo, Michael Pennington and Helen Lederer lent their services to the charity event.

American Paltrow, 30, won an Oscar for her part in the film Shakespeare in Love, which was credited for bringing the Bard to a new audience.

Her win went down in Oscar history after she sobbed her way through her acceptance speech.