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The cake surrounded at Queen Charlottes Ball, 1938
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The cake surrounded at Queen Charlottes Ball, 1938
A huge white cloud of debutantes around the traditional huge cake wheeled out at Queen Charlottes Ball and cut by the guest of honour, in the case of this year, the Duchess of Gloucester. Queen Charlottes Ball, held in honour of the wife of King George III and revived in 1925 to raise funds for the maternity hospital of the same name was one of the highlights of the London Season for a debutante. All the girls would be dressed in white, and would dip into a carefully choreographed curtsy as the cake was cut which was lit by candles representing the number of years since the Queens birth. There was apparently quite a scrum to get a piece of the cake afterwards!
1938
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Media ID 14125549
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
1938 Ball Balls Cake Charlotte Charlottes Debs Debutante Debutantes Season
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EDITORS COMMENTS
A Traditional Spectacle at Queen Charlotte's Ball: The Debutantes Gather Around the Grand Cake, 1938 This evocative photograph captures the essence of a bygone era, as the debutantes of 1938 eagerly gather around the grand cake at Queen Charlotte's Ball. The event, held in honor of Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, was a significant highlight of the London Season and an essential rite of passage for young debutantes. The scene is set in a grand ballroom, where the girls, all dressed in elegant white gowns, await the moment when the guest of honor, in this case, the Duchess of Gloucester, will cut the cake. The cake, a traditional centerpiece of the evening, is a massive, multi-tiered creation, surrounded by a huge white cloud of curtsying debutantes. The cake, lit by candles representing the number of years since the Queen's birth, is a symbol of the passage of time and the transition into womanhood for these young ladies. The carefully choreographed curtsy, as the cake is cut, is a testament to the etiquette and tradition that defined the London Season. The excitement in the room is palpable, as the girls anticipate their turn to dip into the cake, creating a bit of a scrum once the cutting ceremony is complete. Queen Charlotte's Ball was a night of tradition, elegance, and excitement, and this photograph offers a glimpse into the magic of this iconic event.
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