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James Blunt performs. Right: Sienna Miller. Below: Bianca Jagger
ALAN DAVIDSON
Show time! It was a great day – and a fine night. Never mind the hard-fought action on the field between England and Australia, battle continued afterwards at the Cartier International as Chinawhite and the Official Players Marquee Party (OPMP) went head-to-head in their respective tents. Chinawhite got off to a solid start but it was the OPMP which possibly just sneaked it – thanks largely to chart-topping James Blunt, who was persuaded to do a star turn by his old Harrow school chum Jack Kidd. This year, Kidd teamed up with party organisers Smyle and together they had promised the mother of all parties. No one was disappointed – not least when Blunt (who earlier had been presented to the Queen in the Royal Box, along with Cate Blanchett and Bianca Jagger – who must, temporarily have abandoned her anti-establishment principles) took to the stage shortly after 9pm. ‘James agreed to do a 45-minute set because we were at school together,’ said Kidd. ‘It was a hell of a coup.’ Blunt, 28, served in Kosovo as a captain in the Life Guards. He also stood sentry over the Queen Mother’s coffin and rode as Sovereign’s Escort at Trooping the Colour. Whether or not he will ever be tempted to get back on a polo pony is unclear – but it wouldn’t do the sport’s image any harm if he did. Meanwhile, Sienna Miller used the Cartier International as a means of telling anyone who was interested that the hiatus with her fiancé Jude Law was not the end of the world. Far from it. She was pictured kissing her ex-boyfriend Orlando Bloom and was then seen entwined with the brooding Lord of the Rings star in the Chinawhite tent. That was a bit of a coup as well. So, honours even for the two party hosts – and roll on next year. 4 Hurlingham
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12/8/05 3:04:41 pm
