Judi Dench joins other stars at Noel Coward charity gala after mourning the death of her friend Maggie Smith

Judi Dench and Ian McKellen were among those celebrating the late playwright and composer Noel Coward at London's Prince of Wales Theatre in London on Sunday.

The actress, 89, was also joined by broadcaster Gyles Brandreth and actor Derek Jacobi at the charity gala A Marvellous Party. 

The event marks the culmination of Coward 125, a two-year long celebration of Coward's life and work, leading up to the 125th anniversary of his birth. 

A Marvellous Party also features the lies of Hugh Bonneville, Alfred Enoch, Joshua James, Marisha Wallace and Samantha Spiro. 

It comes after Judi mourned the death of her friend Maggie Smith who died in September at the age of 89.

Judi choked up on stage at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in October after she was asked about her late friends Maggie and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.

Judi, who shared personal anecdotes during her presentation at the literature festival, got emotional after interviewer Brendan O'Hea brought up her beloved friends who both passed away in the last month. 

'I know I probably shouldn't bring this up, I know the last week has been tricky for you because you lost your great friends Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt', he asked.

He also asked her what she meant when she had once compared grief to petrol when speaking about her husband, Michael Williams', who died from lung cancer in 2001.

'I suppose the energy that's created by grief...' she said, before breaking down in tears.

Maggie's death sparked an outpouring of grief from fellow thespians and Harry Potter fans around the world, with Huge Bonneville leading tributes to a 'true legend of her generation'.

The beloved star, who was known for her roles in the Harry Potter movies and her incredible 70-year acting career, had been friends with Dench, since the 1950s. 

Their tight-knit friendship began when they were both young actresses after meeting backstage at the Old Vic theatre in London.

Speaking at a tribute event for Dench back in 2002, Smith said : 'What I remember mostly about that time, it was the beginning of a friendship, and I remember laughter more than anything in the world.

'Judi's the most tremendous friend. She's been a huge support and hugely loyal.' 

The pair had appeared on stage and on screen together several times, including the 1985 film A Room with a View, the 2004 drama 'Ladies in Lavender' and the 2011 comedy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Speaking about Judi and Maggies friendship, Ol Parker - who wrote The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, said: 'Maggie and Judi would swim in their Victorian swimsuits. And every day we would all laugh and laugh and laugh.'

Dench and Smith also took part in the 2018 Netflix documentary 'Nothing Like a Dame', which documents conversations between the two actresses and fellow performers Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright (all of who are Dames Commander of the British Empire).