Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton and Sir Richard Branson’s doctor daughter Holly Branson went retro for charity on Wednesday. The pair were shimmery and shiny at the Renaissace Rooms in London’s Vauxhall for Day-Glo Charity Roller Disco, a benefit for a new surgical ward at the Children’s Hospital in Oxford.

Kate organized the event (perhaps at the urging of the Queen?) in memory of a friend. In fact, she’s planning on calling the new ward “Tom’s Ward” after her friend Thomas Waley-Cohen, who died of bone cancer in 2004. Holly and Tom’s brother, Sam, helped organize the charity event.

Place2Be, an organization that gives counseling services to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in 130 UK schools, is also receiving donations from the event.

Photo credit: Goff/INFphoto.com

See, Middleton’s been out of work for quite some time — and besides her heavy social life — doesn’t have much on agenda. This, of course, worries the Queen mum as she’s concerned the public misgivings on Kate’s current lifestyle will reflect poorly on the family. She feels that animal rights or a children’s charity would provide a “safe” role that — and get this — would not draw comparisons to the late Princess Diana. Interesting.

Now obviously, Middleton would have a bit to clarify if she joined up with a group like PETA. Last year, the organization slammed her for participating in “blood sports” during an outing with Prince Charles to hunt deer. Still, PETA has also been know to give second chances, and I’m sure they would warmly embrace a change of heart from someone with as high a profile as Middleton.

As one article noted, animal charities may not be as “safe” as the Queen suggests — especially considering the rather risque photo shoots we’ve seen in the past. Perhaps the most humorous suggestion would be for Kate to join the UK Hamster Rescue organization. They’re so poor that they cannot even afford to be a registered charity — something a potential royal could most certainly help with.

Either way, the Queen Mother will be watching…