Miss Universe Winners: Queens of Wonderland: Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter attend Alice premiere by royal appointment

By Georgina Littlejohn

Pale and beautiful: Anne Hathaway kept it pale and interesting at the premiere of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland while co-star Helena Bonham Carter looked suitably eccentric

Queens of Wonderland, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter were somewhat overshadowed by the real life royalty on hand at the royal world premiere of their new film Alice In Wonderland last night.

Hathaway, who plays The White Queen in the new 3D movie, looked stunning in a brown sequinned dress, which showcased her alabaster complexion to full effect.

While English eccentric Bonham-Carter chose a suitably haphazard looking Vivienne Westwood gown.

But both were almost overshadowed by the night's hostess, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, who wowed the waiting crowds in a royal blue floor-length Vivienne Westwood taffeta dress.

Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Mia Wasikowska: The Wonderland actresses looked perfectly co-ordinated for their big night

When complimented on her frock, she said: 'Oh, it's beautiful but I can't tell you how tight it is. I daren't breathe in it and goodness knows how I am going to sit down!'

The stars of the new Tim Burton 3D fantasy adventure were soaked by downpours at its premiere.

Hundreds of screaming fans braved the torrential rain to greet their idols Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and a host of British actors who also star in the movie.

London's Leicester Square was transformed into a magical wonderland featuring topiary animals but the green carpet - which replaced the traditional red - was a sodden welcome for the celebrities.

A game Hathaway also wore Vivienne Westwood, a strapless gown. And despite the rainy weather she didn't seem to mind and said: 'I love London, I love the rain!'

By royal appointment: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in a floor-length taffeta dress designed by Vivienne Westwood (R) who also designed Anne Hathaway's dress

Hathaway agreed with suggestions the film was a feminist take on the classic story.
She said: 'I definitely would agree with that - yes.

'This is Alice ten years later...when she goes to wonderland she's experiencing a return to self and I think it's a wonderful take on it.'

Many of the screaming fans were teenage girls who had come to see Depp and when the star arrived, wearing a dark suit and open neck shirt, he dashed up the carpet to greet some of them.

The movie features Depp as the Mad Hatter, Hathaway as the White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Australian rising star Mia Wasikowska as Alice and Little Britain star Matt Lucas who plays Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Royal welcome: Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, who attended with husband Prince Charles, meets Mia who plays Alice and the rest of the film's stars

Director Burton, famed for his unusual and unconventional movies, had his own take on the main character of his movie.

Off with her bag! Helena's custom designed clutch

Burton arrived arm-in-arm with actress partner Helena Bonham Carter, who plays the foul-tempered monarch the Queen of Hearts, and had accessorised her outfit with red heart earrings.

She also had red hearts hanging inside her white and cream chiffon dress and was even carrying a specially-designed clutch bag with a queen of hearts playing card stitched on to the front - with her face as the movie's character on the design.

He described Alice as 'quietly confused' about her life which is why she goes down a rabbit hole.

A host of British stars provided the voices for Wonderland's magical inhabitants, including Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat, Alan Rickman as Absolem the caterpillar, Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit, Paul Whitehouse as the March Hare, Timothy Spall as Bayard, Barbara Windsor as the Dormouse and Sir Christopher Lee as the Jabberwocky.

Cinema royalty: Alice In Wonderland director Tim Burton and his partner Helena Bonham Carter, who plays the wicked Queen of Hearts, and Johnny Depp, who portrays the Mad Hatter

Whitehouse starred alongside Depp when the Hollywood star made a guest appearance in the BBC's Fast Show comedy series.

The British comedian was asked whether the Pirates of the Caribbean star was more excited to work with a member of the Fast Show, than he was to work with the American.

Whitehouse replied: "He's only a two-bit Keith Richards impersonator, of course he must have been excited to work with me."

Sheen described his character as 'full of nervous energy'.

He said of the classic tale: 'I think everybody knows the story inside out.'

Rickman, who soon followed him down the green carpet, said he didn't like the Alice story when a child because it was 'full of soppy women'.

Bonham Carter, who lives in a separate home to husband Burton, was asked which of the two homes was more like Wonderland.

Off with her hair: Mia Wasikowska, who plays Alice, shows off a stunning lace dress and her newly cropped hair at the premiere

The Dormouse and the Bloodhound: Barbara Windsor and Timothy Spall pose for the cameras

But referring to her outfit, which consisted of lots of strings of pearls and necklaces, replied: 'Me, it's always so twee, I'm wearing it half of it round my neck.'

Sharon Osbourne when questioned if she had ever been to Wonderland said: 'I lived my whole life in f******* wonderland.'

Johnny Depp, who plays the Mad Hatter, was one of the first to arrive in Leicester Square in London, dressed quite sombrely compared to his on-screen alter-ego.

The 46-year-old actor, looked rather dapper in a black suit and white open-necked shirt as he posed for pictures outside the venue.

On-screen sisters: Eleanor Gecks and Eleanor Tomlinson, who play the Chataway sisters, characters created especially for the film

The Jabberwocky and the White Rabbit: Sir Christopher Lee and Michael Sheen

The film is being premiered at the Odeon cinema, part of the cinema chain that initially refused to screen the film after a row with Disney over the early planned release of the DVD.

Odeon said it would boycott the 3D feature film at its theatres in the UK, Italy and Ireland in protest after it argued that early release of the DVD could lead to fewer people going to see the movie in a cinema.

Thankfully, the dispute was resolved just in time for premiere.

Other stars of the film arrived shortly after Depp, including Barbara Windsor, who provides the voice of the Dormouse. The actress was all smiles as she posed for pictures, looking cute and chic in a royal blue suit and matching hat.

Down the rabbit hole: Mia stars as Alice in the film, a famous re-imagining of Lewis Carroll's well-loved tale

Timothy Spall, who voices Bayard and Bloodhound, looked bemused as he took in the surroundings and met some of the fans who had really gone to town for the premiere.

And while most had come in costume as characters from the film,the die-hard Johnny Depp fans were all too apparent, with three of them dressed as a different character from his films, including Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands and Jack Sparrow.

Other stars of the film snapped as they arrived were Eleanor Gecks, who plays Faith Chataway and Eleanor Tomlinson, who plays her sister Fiona.

Michael Sheen, who voices the White Rabbit, and his girlfriend were also in attendance as well as Sir Christopher Lee, who voices the Jabberwocky