From Margot Robbie to Olivia Colman, All the Stars at Carey Mulligan’s Winter Gala for War Child

Source: Vogue
Category: Fashion
Originally Published: 2025-12-05
Curated: 2025-12-05 16:18

The concept of a “wassail” may not be the most familiar of festive traditions, but summarized by a quick Google as “a traditional Anglo-Saxon festival to bless orchards and ensure a good harvest, celebrated with singing, drinking and making noise.” It’s not a bad place to start when it comes to Christmas festivities. Hosted at London’s Lindley Hall last night, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford’s 12th annual War Child Wassail was a truly beautiful evening, raising a staggering £3.7 million ($4.9 million) to support the charity’s vital work across conflict zones, driven by the goal of ensuring a safe future for every child living through war.

Expertly emceed by Mo Gilligan, the room welcomed musical performances from Hozier, Mumford & Sons, Myles Smith, and Sierra Ferrell, with surprise readings from Olivia Colman and a cameo from Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr. British Vogue cover star Margot Robbie, Emerald Fennell, and Gillian Anderson were also in attendance to support War Child’s life-changing work.

Ahead of the event, Mulligan reflected on her decade-long involvement with the charity. “I went on my first trip with War Child in 2014 and I could see the pretty enormous need,” she told Vogue. “I had so many friends back home who’d want to do something to help, so within about six weeks we organized our first wassail.” What started as “basically an alternative Christmas Carol concert with Helena Bonham Carter reading the lyrics to ‘Santa Baby’” has since become an annual tradition, raising a total of over £15 million ($20 million) to support children in conflict.

This article was curated from Vogue. All rights belong to the original publisher.