Royal Caledonian Ball

The Royal Caledonian Ball is a ball held annually in London for the benefit of Scottish charities. With few exceptions, the Royal Caledonian Ball has been held annually since 1849, and is the oldest charity ball in the world.[1] It is considered the highlight of the London season.[2]

Royal Caledonian Ball
GenreCharity ball
FrequencyAnnually
VenueGrosvenor House Hotel
Location(s)86-90 Park Lane
London W1K 7TN
CountryUnited Kingdom
Inaugurated1849 (1849)
FounderGeorge, Duke of Atholl
Anne, Duchess of Atholl
Most recent3 May 2019
Next event2021
Attendance1,300+ (record set in 1980s)
Patron(s)Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh; Anne, Princess Royal; The Duke of Kent and Katharine, Duchess of Kent
Organised byRoyal Caledonian Ball Trust Committee
PeopleCharles, Earl of Kinnoull (president)
Merlin, Earl of Erroll (vice president)
Websiteroyalcaledonianball.com

History

The ball dates to the 1840s, when George, Duke of Atholl and his wife, Anne, wanted to entertain their Scottish friends residing in London.[3] By 1849, it had become a fundraiser for Scottish charities helping vulnerable schoolchildren, the homeless, and cancer patients.[3]

The Royal Caledonian Ball has been held every year since, except during the Boer War, World War I and World War II; following the death of King Edward VII on 6 May 1910, and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[4]

The ball has been under the royal patronage since Edward VII. Since the 1930s, the event has been held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London.[5] The Queen is often in attendance.[6]

In recent years, the ball has been featured in the Bystander section of Tatler.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Dance and dress

The Royal Caledonian Ball dress code stipulates that male attendees wear Highland evening dress, evening tails with white tie, or mess dress. Women should wear floor-length evening dress or mess dress; tartan sashes are encouraged.[1]

Originally, men wore full evening tartan while women were dressed in while, with a tartan sash.[14] Indeed, it was the only socially acceptable opportunity to wear full tartan outside Scotland.[14]

The event is known for its Scottish country dancing, and it is traditional for guests at the ball to dance every reel:[2][15]

Traditionally, the Duke and Duchess of Atholl are the first couple to start the dance, followed by his private army, the Atholl Highlanders.[6]

Charities

The ball supports numerous charities in Scotland and has raised an estimated £3 million since its inception.[16]

Among the charities the ball supports are Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, Erskine Hospital, and St Catherine’s Homeless Project in Edinburgh.[2]

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References
  1. Ross, Peter (12 May 2013). "The Royal Caledonian Ball keeps it reel in London". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. "Plenty of space to swing your sporran". The Scotsman. 23 May 2004. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. Clark McGinn, The Ultimate Guide to Being Scottish: Put Your First Foot Forward, Luath Press, 2014, p. 245
  4. "Message from our chairman". The Royal Caledonian Ball & Charities Trust. Facebook. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. "History". Royal Caledonian Ball. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  6. 'Royal Caledonian Ball: Regimental Reels for Reels', The Glasgow Herald, 22 April 1963
  7. Bystander: Mayfair: Royal Caledonian Ball, Tatler, 1 July 2008
  8. Bystander: Mayfair: Royal Caledonian Ball, Tatler, 1 June 2009
  9. Bystander: Mayfair: Royal Caledonian Ball, Tatler, 1 June 2010
  10. Bystander: Mayfair: Royal Caledonian Ball, Tatler, 8 June 2012
  11. Bystander: Mayfair: Royal Caledonian Ball, Tatler, 16 July 2013
  12. Bystander: Mayfair: The Caledonian Ball, Tatler, 22 July 2014
  13. Sophia Money-Coutts, The Future of Scotland?, Tatler, 8 December 2014
  14. Angela Lambert, 1939: The Last Season of Peace, A & C Black, 2011
  15. "The Reels". Royal Caledonian Ball. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  16. "London's Royal Caledonian Ball supports small Scottish charities". The Edinburgh Reporter. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2015.

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