| Royal Caledonian Ball | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Charity ball |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Grosvenor House Hotel |
| Locations | 86-90 Park Lane London W1K 7TN |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Inaugurated | 1849 (1849) |
| Founder | George, Duke of Atholl Anne, Duchess of Atholl |
| Most recent | 10 May 2024 |
| Attendance | 1,300+ (record set in 1980s) |
| Patrons | The Princess Royal andThe Duke of Kent |
| Organised by | Royal Caledonian Ball Trust Committee |
| People | Charles, Earl of Kinnoull (president) Merlin, Earl of Erroll (vice president) |
| Website | royalcaledonianball |
TheRoyal Caledonian Ball is aball 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]
The ball dates to the 1840s, whenGeorge, Duke of Atholl, and his wife,Anne, wanted to entertain their Scottish friends residing in London.[2] By 1849, it had become a fundraiser for Scottish charities helping vulnerable schoolchildren, the homeless, and cancer patients.[2]
The Royal Caledonian Ball has been held every year since, except during theBoer War,World War I andWorld War II; following the death of KingEdward VII on 6 May 1910, and during theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[3]
The ball has been under the royal patronage since Edward VII. Since the 1930s, the event has been held at theGrosvenor House Hotel onPark Lane, London.[4] The Queen was often in attendance.[5]
In recent years, the ball has been featured in theBystander section ofTatler.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
The Royal Caledonian Balldress code stipulates that male attendees wearHighland evening dress, evening tails withwhite tie, ormess 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 white, 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 itsScottish country dancing, and it is traditional for guests at the ball to dance everyreel:[15][16]
Traditionally, theDuke and Duchess of Atholl are the first couple to start the dance, followed by his private army, theAtholl Highlanders.[5]
The ball supports numerous charities in Scotland and has raised an estimated £3 million since its inception.[17]
Among the charities the ball supports areQueen Victoria School inDunblane,Erskine Hospital, and St Catherine’s Homeless Project inEdinburgh.[15]
51°30′35.0″N0°09′17.3″W / 51.509722°N 0.154806°W /51.509722; -0.154806