To daddy's chalet... and beyond! Holly Branson dresses up as Buzz Lightyear and downs toffee vodka with Princess Beatrice

By Paul Bentley

What does a member of the Royal Family, several bottles of toffee vodka and Buzz Lightyear have in common? A night out on the piste, of course.
For after a hard day’s skiing in the upmarket Swiss resort of Verbier at the weekend, Princess Beatrice was joined by friends including tycoon’s daughter, Holly Branson, for a lively night out.
Dressed in a variety of costumes - led by blonde newly-wed Holly, 30, who was dressed as one of the lead characters from the children’s film Toy Story - the 18-strong group of socialites hit swish Farinet Bar in the centre of town for some spirited après-ski.

Party animal: Holly Branson dressed as Buzz Lightyear at a fancy dress party during ski holiday in Verbier

Starting on the terrace outside at around 6pm on Sunday, the group downed pints of beer and shots as they laughed and joked.
Perhaps mindful of her position as the Queen’s grand-daughter, Beatrice, 23, eschewed fancy dress for simple black leggings and a North Face gillet and carried a bottle of Evian water.

But the fifth-in-line-to-the-throne did confide in fellow party-goers towards the end of the three-hour drinking session that she had drunk 'about five toffee vodkas and a Jaegermeister' while talking with friends, including a girl dressed as a Dalmatian.
‘You should try them, they’re amaaaazing,’ the Duke of York’s daughter laughed.
Inside Holly, who married banker Freddie Andrews, 30, in a lavish ceremony on her father’s private Caribbean island, Necker, shortly before Christmas, danced on tables and happily posed for photographs in her cartoon character outfit before being escorted home by friends.

Party animals: The group were said to have downed toffee shots at the bar

A holidaying Brit who was at the bar when Holly, Beatrice and their pals arrived said the young Royal had come across well.
Rob, 27, from London, said: 'I come here a lot and the bars get busy, but you don't often get fancy dress in Verbier. I thought Holly looked good. It was funny, but I don't think other people were so impressed.'
He added: 'I spoke to Beatrice and she seemed very sweet.'

The group is staying for the week at Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson's luxury chalet, set above the resort with sprawling views of the alps.
The mountain-side home, which costs up to £100,000 a week to rent, is notorious for its extravagance – even by the luxury resort’s standards - and has previously hosted Al Pacino, Jamie Oliver and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Just last week Richard Branson was in town, staying at his home with Sir Bob Geldof and Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

The chalet boasts a swimming pool, spa facilities and even a handful of Jacuzzis on the first floor balcony, where Holly, her brother Sam and their friends could be seen and heard from the road - chatting loudly as they were served drinks, watching the sunset.

Staff at the chalet are on hand throughout the day to cater to their every whim, driving the group to town at the beginning of the day in their ski gear, picking them up in the afternoon and then transporting them to one of the resort’s numerous bars to party into the early hours.

Chums: Holly and Beatrice attend an event honouring Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday last September

A Virgin spokesman said there was no particular reason for the fancy dress. ‘It was just a fun night out with friends - nothing more,’ she said.

It is Beatrice’s second ski holiday in the resort so far this year. She spent New Year in the same bar with her sister, Princess Eugenie, and cousin, Prince Harry.

Beatrice, who graduated from university last summer, is currently undertaking a number of work experience placements while she decides on a future career but was given time off to go on holiday with her friends.

Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that she would be undertaking her first royal engagement with her grandmother, The Queen, when she attends the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster next Thursday.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the family group will attend the annual service, during which the Queen distributes Maundy money to 86 women and 86 men – one for each of her 86 years (her actual birthday is on April 21). Each recipient receives two purses, one red and one white.

The red purse will contain a £5 coin commemorating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and a special 50p coin. The white purse will contain uniquely minted Maundy Money. This takes the form of silver one, two, three and four penny pieces, the sum of which equals the Monarch’s age.

The recipients are all retired pensioners recommended ministers of all denominations in recognition of service to the Church and to the community in York.
Sources have suggested that Beatrice’s father, Prince Andrew, has been lobbying for his daughter to have a more significant royal role but Buckingham Palace yesterday insisted that it was a long-standing engagement.
‘In line with many other senior members of the Royal Family, Princess Beatrice is accompanying the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on one of the official jubilee engagements.

'It is the first time that she has done so. It was thought to be a particularly appropriate engagement as it is being conducted in York,’ a spokesman said.
Afterwards Beatrice and her grand-parents will attend a lunch at mansion House and visit the Yorkshire Museum.