Lady Amelia Windsor, Kyra Kennedy and the daughter of a London cabbie rub Dior-draped shoulders at the Debutantes Ball in Paris

  • Lady Amelia is the granddaughter of the Queen's cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
  • Kyra Kennedy is the daughter of Robert Kennedy Jr. and great-niece to the late President John F. Kennedy
  • Lauren Marbe, 17, the daughter of a London taxi driver, hit news with her IQ of 161, one point higher than Einstein
  • Paris Debutantes Ball held at the Automobile Club on Saturday, launching 20 hand-picked girls into 'society'
  • Also in attendance was Lord George Porchester, who owns Highclere Castle in which Downton Abbey is set
  • Roma David, daughter of Seinfeld creator Larry David, also attended the high-society event
  • Ophelie Renouard has organised the ball for 21 years, and personally invites each guest

By Martha De Lacey

PUBLISHED: 06:26 EST, 2 December 2013 | UPDATED: 07:09 EST, 2 December 2013


Wearing couture gowns and dazzling smiles, some 20 young girls, hand-picked from around the world, have gathered in Paris to attend the high-society Debutantes Ball.

Guests included Lady Amelia Windsor, granddaughter of the Queen's cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent; Kyra Kennedy, daughter of Robert Kennedy Jr. and great-niece to the late President John F. Kennedy; and Lauren Marbe, the 17-year-old daughter of a London taxi driver, who hit headlines with her IQ score of 161, one point higher than Einstein.

Dressed in Dior, Kyra Kennedy and her father Robert opened the ball - held at the Automobile Club on Saturday - to the sound of a gypsy waltz, at one of the social events of the year where high society meets haute couture.

Lady Amelia on the rooftop balcony of the Automobile Club at the ball
Kyra Kennedy, Lauren Marbe and Rebecca Eu at the ball

Lady Amelia Windsor on the rooftop at the Automobile Club, left, and Kyra Kennedy, Lauren Marbe and Rebecca Eu at the ball, right

Taking a break from dancing, from left, Aya Tange, Alysson Lee, Eva Hansen and Leonora Gilmour sitting down at the ball in Paris

Taking a break from dancing, from left, Aya Tange, Alysson Lee, Eva Hansen and Leonora Gilmour sitting down at the ball in Paris

The glittering event saw the debutantes dance, dine and network the night away in dresses loaned by some of Paris's most famous couture houses.

Lord George Porchester whose family owns Highclere Castle, the setting for the hit television series Downton Abbey, was also invited, along with 18-year-old Kennedy's father Robert, the son of John F. Kennedy's brother Robert, who was also assassinated.

 

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Others taking part included British royal Lady Amelia Windsor, the granddaughter of one of Queen Elizabeth II's cousins, Francesca Packer Barham, granddaughter of Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer and Romy David, daughter of Seinfeld creator Larry David.

From Asia, there was Akshita Bhanjdeo of India's Bhanja dynasty, Filipina socialite Monica Urquijo Zobel, and Rebecca Eu, the Canberra-based daughter of a Chinese healthcare company chief.

From left, Leonora Gilmour, daughter of Mardi and Christopher Gilmour, Lauren Marbe, daughter of a London taxi driver, and Amelia Windsor, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth's cousin, at the Debutantes Ball in Paris on Saturday night

From left, Leonora Gilmour, daughter of Mardi and Christopher Gilmour, Lauren Marbe, daughter of a London taxi driver, and Amelia Windsor, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth's cousin, at the Debutantes Ball in Paris on Saturday night

From left, Lauren Marbe, Rebecca Eu, Kyra Kennedy, Eva Hansen, Ata Tange and Cheryl Cheong

From left, Lauren Marbe, Rebecca Eu, Kyra Kennedy, Eva Hansen, Ata Tange and Cheryl Cheong

Now in her 21st year organising the ball, Ophelie Renouard had made no secret of her quest to track down as many big names as possible.

A London taxi driver's daughter, Lauren Marbe, 17, made headlines recently when she notched up an IQ test score of 161, one point higher than Einstein

 

In another publicity coup this year, she secured the presence of a London taxi driver's daughter, Lauren Marbe.

The 17-year-old made headlines recently when she notched up an IQ test score of 161, one point higher than Einstein.

'I read about her in the newspapers and so I phoned her up and she said, "It is not my world but if you invite me I will come",' Renouard said.

Her father, wearing black tie for the first time, was overwhelmed. He said: 'This is a dream! I still cannot believe it.'

Amelia Windsor, left, with Monica Urquijro Zobel
Lady Amelia Sophia Theodora Mary Margaret Windsor is the younger daughter of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews and Sylvana Windsor, Countess of St Andrews

Lady Amelia Sophia Theodora Mary Margaret Windsor - left, with fellow guest Monica Urquijro Zobel - is the younger daughter of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews and Sylvana Windsor, Countess of St Andrews

Lady Amelia Windsor with a male guest
Lady Amelia dancing at the ball

Lady Amelia with fellow guests at the ball, held in Paris on Saturday to bring young ladies 'out' into society

Kyra Kennedy arriving at the ball on Saturday
Kyra Kennedy is the great-niece of former president JFK

Kyra Kennedy, great-niece of assassinated president JFK, arriving at the ball in Paris on Saturday

The event, held at the Automobile Club of France, is based on the debutantes balls that were once an established part of the British upper class's social calendar.

These elaborate affairs launched well-born young women into polite society and, with luck, also introduced them to a potential husband.

In previous years Le Bal has attracted the daughters of European aristocracy, as well as Hollywood A-listers such as Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Clint Eastwood and Sylvester Stallone

But the balls started to fall out of favour in the late 1950s, after Queen Elizabeth abolished the practice of the debutantes also being presented at court.

In recent decades, they have been reinvented as glittering fundraisers with the emphasis on philanthropy and contact-building rather than finding a potential suitor.

Among the new generation of balls, Renouard's alone offers participants the chance to borrow an haute couture dress for the night.

'They are not interested in finding a husband, they are too young,' she said. 'What they prefer is the dress, because even if they are privileged they have never been to an haute couture house.'

In previous years Le Bal has attracted the daughters of European aristocracy, as well as Hollywood A-listers such as Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Clint Eastwood and Sylvester Stallone.

The ball now has a strong showing from Asia, but Renouard says she still has to crack Russia.

'I'm not good on Russia. It's all about networks...', she said.

Francesca Packer Barham posing for photographs on the rooftop at the event
Zoe Springer posing for photographs before the ball

Francesca Packer Barham, left, eldest granddaughter of the late Australian media magnate Kerry Packer, attended the ball, as did Zoe Springer, right, granddaughter of German media mogul Axel Springer

Zoe Springer, one of the 20 young female debutantes invited to the ball, has her photograph taken before the event
Leonora Gilmour was one of the guests hand-picked by organisers to attend the Debutante Ball

Zoe Springer, left, and Leonora Gilmour, right, pose for photographs before the event in Paris this weekend

Lady Amelia Windsor outside the ball in Paris
Robert Kennedy Jnr and Chery Hines arriving at the ball

Lady Amelia, left, Robert Kennedy Jnr and Chery Hines, right, arriving at the ball on Saturday

Actress Cheryl Hines, who starred opposite Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, arriving at the ball in Paris with Robert Kennedy Jnr

Actress Cheryl Hines, who starred opposite Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, arriving at the ball in Paris with Robert Kennedy Jnrscal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Lady Amelia is most certainly the standard that will be in place for a long time I dont think I have ever laid eyes on a more beautiful woman than her. her handler's her parents and the choice for her to attend this ball were just perfect. great Britain should be proud as a country to put forward such an elegant woman and DM you have out done your self this time by running this story. if and when this young woman gets married I will certainly send my congratulations to her and her family. Good luck lady Amelia. you are just wonderful

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Lady Amelia looks resplendent. The Kennedy girl, however....for a debutante, she has dreadful posture.

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Lady Amelia looks stunning! The Kennedy Girl, on the other hand...for a debutante, she has dreadful posture.

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Lady Amelia looks stunning! The Kennedy Girl, on the other hand...for a debutante, she has dreadful posture.

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Lady Amelia looks like a child.

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No doubt Lady Amelia stole the show.

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Why was Lady Amelia allowed to wear a gown with a transparent bodice? Her nipples are showing in several pictures and I shudder; so unfortunate as she carries herself elegantly and looks at ease in couture, maybe she didn't realize? But her parents/minders/whoever owed her the mature voice of reason in selecting her dress - or anyone at all at that event could have discreetly taken her aside and gotten stickies/strapless bra cups on the double.

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I saw no nips....not one...!!

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Jealous and stop being such a prude this woman is beautiful I didn't even notice her n .

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How many children died across the globe today? Hold on, I'm trying to figure out what kind of shoes Amelia was wearing

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How many children died across the globe today? Hold on, I'm trying to figure out what kind of shoes Amelia was wearing

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Lady Amelia looks exactly what she is a true lady. Absolutely stunning and knows how to pose correctly for the camera, no hands on hips etc. - Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice take note.

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But, boy does she need to pluck those eyebrows!

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Her eyebrows are beautiful

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