Queen Charlotte's Ball, London, England

Founded in 1780 by King George III in honor of his wife’s birthday, Queen Charlotte’s Ball was the first debutante ball in the world, and existed in its original form for close to two centuries. In an elaborate –- and as years passed, increasingly archaic -– ceremony, Britain’s most well-bred bachelorettes were presented to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, marking the beginning of the British social season. In 1958 Queen Elizabeth ended the tradition, but not without the support of her husband, Prince Philip (who called the ball “bloody daft,”) and her sister, Princess Margaret (who is said to have complained that “every tart in London was getting in.”)

But like the British monarchy itself, Queen Charlotte’s Ball has received a 21^st century makeover. In recent years the ball has been held at various posh London locations, such as the Savoy hotel in 2011, and the debutantes arrive at the party in chauffeured Maserati’s. Not all of the pomp of the original ball is dead though: the girls are still required to wear white gowns, but event sponsor Mikimoto makes sure every debutante is totally blinged out in their pearls and jewels.

[Photo via]