Meghan's 'rival' Emma Thynn poses up a storm with Zara Tindall as they join Prince William at his beloved Tusk Conservation Awards

The Duchess of Sussex's so-called rival, the Marchioness of Bath, made a dazzling appearance at the Prince of Wales' beloved Tusk Conservation Awards last night - even posing up a storm with the King's niece, Zara Tindall.Emma Thynn, 40, arrived on the star-studded red carpet at The Raffles Hotel in London, alongside her husband Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath, 52, before heading inside to mingle with the royals.Nailing the dress code, the glamorous aristocrat stunned in a zebra-inspired strappy gown, while Princess Anne's daughter Zara looked typically radiant in a navy dress as she joined her cousin, Prince William, at the annual event.The future king, 44, was certainly not short of support as Zara, 45, joined Princess Diana's twin nieces, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, both 34, for the occasion, which saw some of Africa's most inspiring conservationists honoured for their efforts to protect endangered wildlife. Emma's appearance at the awards no doubt sparked a frenzy amongst royal fans, considering Meghan Markle, 45, has long been accused of copying the Marchioness, who also has a lifestyle brand and, like the Duchess, produces homemade jam from her Longleat estate.Following the launch of Meghan's Netflix series in 2025, 'With Love, Meghan', eagle-eyed viewers spotted a series of similarities to a YouTube cooking show, 'Emma's Kitchen', hosted by the Marchioness.Emma, a Tusk Ambassador, is a regular attendee of the awards and has long supported the Wiltshire-based charity's work.The socialite and her husband even hosted a gala for the organisation in September at their Longleat estate, raising more than £100,000.Speaking about the event, Emma told the estate's website: 'Conservation is not simply part of what Longleat does, it is part of who we are. The Duchess of Sussex's so-called rival, the Marchioness of Bath (pictured right), made a dazzling appearance at the Prince of Wales' beloved Tusk Conservation Awards last night - even posing up a storm with the King's niece, Zara Tindall (pictured left)'Longleat is home to more than 120 rare, vulnerable and critically endangered species, each one reminding us of the responsibility we all share to protect the natural world. 'This evening is not just a celebration, but it is also a statement of our shared commitment for the future. At a time when wildlife faces unprecedented challenges, the work of organisations like Tusk has never been more important. 'Together, we can help ensure that future generations inherit a world where these magnificent animals not only survive but thrive.'The gala marked more than two decades of collaboration between Longleat and Tusk.When previously asked by the Daily Mail's Harriet Kean what she thought of claims Meghan had copied her, Emma raised her eyebrow and said: 'No comment.' Comparisons between the two were also drawn in the latest season of reality TV show, Ladies Of London: The New Reign. In the opening scenes designer Lottie Kane brought up the Duchess while introducing the Marchioness to viewers.'She is the first black woman to be married into an aristocratic family, and I think Meghan Markle tries to claim that, but it was actually Emma,' she said.'I'm of mixed heritage, half-Nigerian, half-English,' added Emma, who became the Marchioness of Bath after her husband's father, Alexander Thynn, died in 2020. Emma Thynn, 40, arrived on the star-studded red carpet at The Raffles Hotel in London, alongside her husband Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath, 52, before heading inside to mingle with the royals The Prince of Wales, 44, arrived at the event on Wednesday night in a dapper black tuxedo for the glittering ceremony at The Raffles Hotel in central London'The press commented heavily on the fact that I was going to become the first woman of colour to hold this title, and I acknowledge the fact that... the only woman of colour in this position is me, still to this day,' she continued. In an interview with this paper in 2018, Emma was questioned whether she was 'bored with the comparisons to the new Duchess of Sussex?'The Marchioness said: 'I wouldn't presume to compare myself to Meghan, but she too broke the mould by being the first black woman to marry into the Royal Family.'I want to emphasise how positively this has been welcomed: she has been embraced by the Royal Family and by Britain.' Emma is BFFs with the Duchess' pal Serena Williams and former Vogue editor Edward Enninful, once thought to be a close friend of Meghan's before drifting apart amid rumours of a rift. The socialite attended the Met Gala alongside both Serena and Edward earlier this year, before attending the King’s Trust Gala in New York with the magazine editor, greeting King Charles on his US tour. Emma became the country's first black British marchioness when she gained the title in 2020, a year after she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the seventh week with her partner Aljaz Skorjanec.Born in the capital, she studied History of Art at University College London before taking a course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda). The glamorous Spencer twins, who are the daughters of Diana's younger brother Earl Spencer, made sure to turn heads as they arrived in contrasting metallic gowns, with one opting for shimmering gold and the other dazzling in silver Zara Tindall was also spotted at the annual event to support her cousin Prince William After a stint in Los Angeles, the former fashion model returned to the UK to become a presenter and chef.At the Tusk Conservation Awards last night, William, who has long been passionate about protecting the natural world, appeared in good spirits as he mingled with guests and conservationists.He told the audience the 'challenges facing our natural world have evolved dramatically' since the Tusk awards began 13 years ago.He added that 'we cannot forget that those who are among the most impacted by our changing climate are also at the forefront of protecting it' and 'too many rangers pay the ultimate price on the front line of conservation'.Discussing the award winners, the prince said: 'May their achievements inspire us all to build on this momentum and go further. To believe that we can save more endangered species. That we can restore threatened habitats.'William added: 'Those working on the front lines of conservation are now contending not just with the illegal wildlife trade, but the growing impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and its ripple effects on the ecosystems and communities that depend on them.'This has demanded new approaches, adaptability and an extraordinary capacity for innovation in the face of increasingly complex challenges.'He said: 'We know conservation works. In Africa, the mountain gorilla population is on an upward trend. Black rhino numbers are increasing in Kenya, and in southern Africa, elephant populations are also recovering.'But we know that conservation is hard and often dangerous. While significant strides are being made, organised crime continues to exploit and traffic protected wildlife.'We must be on continual guard to ensure our endangered species are protected, and that hard-won progress is not reversed.'The Prince has been Royal Patron of Tusk since 2005 and has made the charity's mission to safeguard Africa's wildlife and support conservation communities one of the central causes of his public life.The awards, which William helped establish in 2013, recognise individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting Africa's natural heritage, often working in dangerous and challenging conditions.Since their launch, 61 winners have received more than £2million in grants to support their conservation projects, helping to protect more than 60 species across 23 African countries.This year's ceremony saw £225,000 in grants shared across three award categories, including the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, which honours an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to wildlife protection over many years.The other two honours are the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, which recognises an emerging conservation leader, and the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, which celebrates the courage and dedication of those protecting endangered animals on the front line.The prince's commitment to conservation stretches back more than two decades and has seen him champion efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade and preserve endangered species.Alongside his work with Tusk, he founded United for Wildlife in 2013 to tackle wildlife trafficking and later launched his ambitious Earthshot Prize, which rewards innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.