Queen Charlotte's Ball: Women from rich families show their skills in the London Season

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The ball is renowned as the pinnacle event in the London Season, which is rich in history
Meticulously selected debutantes celebrated their year of charity fundraising, etiquette classes and debut
King George III introduced the Queen Charlotte's Ball in 1780 to celebrate his wife's birthday
One notable attendee was model Anna Ermakova - daughter of Boris Becker

Published: 11:33 EST, 13 September 2015 | Updated: 18:41 EST, 13 September 2015

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Affluent foreigners and mega-rich Brits put their wealth on display at the glamorous Queen Charlotte's Ball at Kensington Palace this weekend.

The ball is renowned as the pinnacle event in the London Season, which is rich in history and was formed over two hundred years ago when the custom of returning to London at the end of the hunting season was celebrated with glittering balls and high society events.

The modern group of meticulously selected debutantes continued the tradition and celebrated their year of charity fundraising, etiquette classes and debut at the Ball.

Women from the richest families showed off their skills in poise and elegance at London's most prestigious society event - Queen Charlotte's Ball - at Kensington Palace this weekend

The young ladies, aged between 17 and 20 and wearing designer dresses, were presented to guests and curtsied to the Queen Charlotte Cake.

King George III introduced the Queen Charlotte's Ball in 1780 to celebrate his wife's birthday and debutantes were traditionally presented to the King or Queen until 1958.

With tables starting at £2,500 and run by a partnership of corporate sponsors and companies, attendance is strictly for the well-to-do, with many traditionalists bemoaning the loss of the balls gentile and refined roots.

And while the young ladies being ‘presented’ are still a rather spectacular vision in a sea of cream silks and lace, their place at the Ball will have been purchased, rather than a birth right.

Apparently celebrating their year of charity fund raising, etiquette classes and ‘debut’ on the dating scene at The Queen Charlotte's Ball, most young ladies take the opportunity to have a bespoke designer dress made for the night.

The modern group of meticulously selected debutantes continued the tradition and celebrated their year of charity fundraising, etiquette classes and debut at the Ball

Amira Rayner adjusts her hair ahead of the Queen Charlotte Ball on September 11 in London

The young ladies, aged between 17 and 20 and wearing designer dresses, were presented to guests and curtsied to the Queen Charlotte Cake

Sir Tobias Clarke and Boris Becker's lovechild, Anna Ermakova, are presented during the Queen Charlotte Ball

Each will have been selected - and paid thousands of pounds - for the privilege of taking months of etiquette classes and dabbling in carefully chosen charity projects.

Prior to the event, older debutantes are on hand to guide and critique the girls on their dress, dancing and pace around the ballroom. On the day itself, an army of professional hair and make-up artists are on hand to make sure that the girls are glowing, setting off perfectly coiffed up 'dos with diamond studded tiaras and precious jewellery.

The 'deb of the year' is chosen according to 'who has worked hardest’ during fund-raising activities throughout the season and shown the most enthusiasm.

After the ceremony the ladies are allowed to change into a dress of their choosing for the after party - with most years leading to tales of debauchery and behaviour most unfitting for a lady.

One notable attendee was model Anna Ermakova - daughter of Boris Becker. The 15-year-old, who is the lovechild of the five-time Wimbledon winner and Russian model Angela Ermakova, looked the spitting image of her father as she posed at the exclusive Queen Charlotte Ball in Kensington Palace, London on Friday.

Her mother, Angela, 47, famously had a fling with Boris in London hotspot Nobu back in 1999, resulting in the birth of Anna, but the former lovers are now on good terms.

An army of professional hair and make-up artists are on hand to make sure that the girls are glowing, setting off perfectly coiffed up 'dos with diamond studded tiaras and precious jewellery

Prior to the event, older debutantes are on hand to guide and critique the girls on their dress, dancing and pace around the ballroom

Queen Charlotte's Ball is the pinnacle event in the London Season. The London Season is rich in history and was formed over two hundred years ago when the custom of returning to London at the end of the hunting season was celebrated with glittering balls and high society events

Debutante Anna Ermakova, daughter of tennis player Boris Becker is presented at the Queen Charlotte's Ball, in Kensington Palace

Debutante Anna Ermakova (right), arrives at the Queen Charlotte's Ball, which is the culmination of the debutante season, which traditionally introduced the daughters of British nobility into society

Each woman will have been selected - and paid thousands of pounds - for the privilege of taking months of etiquette classes and dabbling in carefully chosen charity projects

Ritsema Jemide and Amira Rayner cut the Queen Charlotte Cake at the Queen Charlotte Ball

The beautiful Anna aced it in the style stakes, giving a whole new meaning to the term 'tennis whites' as she donned a stunning gown for the Queen Charlotte's Ball, a pinnacle event of the London Season which was formed over two hundred years ago.

Miss Ermakova certainly turned heads in an exquisite, strapless gown featuring a full-skirted tulle overlay and an opulent fitted bodice adorned with intricate lacework.

She offset the ensemble with a tasteful smattering of diamonds, bedazzled vintage-style hairpieces and simple ivory satin pumps.

Her mother Angela was also in attendance and showed off her model credentials in an exquisite beaded yellow gown which she topped off with a fur stole and drop chandelier earrings.

Miss Ermakova certainly turned heads in an exquisite, strapless gown featuring a full-skirted tulle overlay and an opulent fitted bodice adorned with intricate lacework

She offset the ensemble with a tasteful smattering of diamonds, bedazzled vintage-style hairpieces and simple ivory satin pumps

The ball has been running almost every year since 1780, when King George III first organised the Queen Charlotte’s Ball as a way to celebrate his wife’s birthday.

The ceremony remained unchanged- with debutantes paying respects to a large iced cake at Buckingham Palace, overseen by the monarch- until 1958, when Prince Philip persuaded the Queen to stop receiving each year’s crop at Court.

Philip is said to have complained that the annual Ball, at which girls aged 17 and 18 were expected to meet their suitably-moneyed future husbands, was ‘bloody daft’.

The Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, was even more forthright, saying later ‘we had to put a stop to it . . . every tart in London was getting in!’

Since 1958 the ball was held sporadically at various exclusive venues in the capital to varying degrees of success before being relaunched in 2009 and held annually since, albeit without its royal seal of approval.

The ball has been running almost every year since 1780, when King George III first organised the Queen Charlotte’s Ball as a way to celebrate his wife’s birthday