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.
