The Duke of Kent’s grandson, Albert Windsor, was the star of one
of the most prestigious nights of the year in Paris as he acted as
cavalier to a princess with links to another famous royal
dynasty.
Albert, 19, headed to the Bal de Debutantes in the City of Light
with Princess Eulalia of Orleans-Borbon and their links to some of
the most celebrated reigning houses in history made them the pair
everyone wanted to see.
This year’s Bal de Debutantes took place at the Shangri-La Hotel
in Paris with 19 debutantes with impeccable connections taking
part.
The Bal was started in 1997, inspired by the debutantes balls
which used to be held as a way of introducing royal and
aristocratic young women into society. They came to be seen as old
fashioned. The newer form puts the spotlight more on raising money
for charity.
Eulalia of Orleans-Borbon was seen as one of the star debutantes
this time round thanks to her connections to two of Europe’s most
famous royal dynasties. The Borbons and the Orleans are linked
throughout Spanish and French history.
Eulalia is named after the Spanish infanta from whom she is
descended. Infanta Eulalia was the daughter of Isabel II of Spain.
Isabel’s son, Alfonso XII, is a direct ancestor of King Juan Carlos
and King Felipe VI.
And just to add to Eulalia’s royal pedigree, her godfather is
King Juan Carlos who is also a good friend of her father,
Alvaro.
She’s also got something in common with the Prince and Princess
of Wales – like William and Kate, Eulalia studied at St. Andrew’s
University.
Debutantes at the bal are given a cavalier who walks them into
the ball and with whom they have their first, formal dance. Albert
Windsor accompanied Eulalia in a pairing that a century ago would
have been seen as a potentially ideal royal relationship.
For the cavalier in question is a great, great grandson of King
George V and a grandson of the Duke of Kent.
He was born Albert Louis Philip Edward on September 22 2007 in
London and is the eldest son of Lord Nicholas Windsor and his
estranged wife, Paola de Lupis. He grew up in Rome and England
along with his two younger brothers.
The two weren’t the only famous names at the bal. Lady Araminta
Spencer-Churchill, the daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, was
also there as was Eugénie von Hohenzollern and Princess Isabelle
d’Orleans.
The debutantes all wore designer gowns for the event with
Eugenie keeping it very regal and choosing a couturier beloved of
Belgian and Dutch royalty, Natan.
Jewellery was loaned by famous houses including Cartier and
Bulgari.
The Bal de Debutantes has become one of the best known events on
the Paris social calendar in the run up to Christmas.
