Every year, at the end of her summer vacation in Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth threw a party in her honor. During the summer months, she returned to Balmoral Castle in Scotland for a vacation. In the documentary ‘Our Queen at Ninety‘, Princess Eugenie stated “I think Granny is the happiest where she is. I think she really, really loves the Highlands.”
The Queen carried on a tradition initiated by her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria during her stay at Balmoral. Here’s all you need to know about the annual dance, The Ghillies Ball, that is held each year.
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The Ghillies Ball
In September 1852, the day after Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, bought Balmoral, the pair held a dance to honor their workers and servants for their commitment and duty. This dance became known as the Ghillies Ball.
A ghillie is a Gaelic term that refers to a gamekeeper. It is also a type of shoe that is widely used in Scottish country dance. The Ghillies Ball was conducted in the following decades throughout the reigns of Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather, King George V, and her father, King George VI. At the age of 12, Princess Elizabeth attended her first ball.
In his book ‘Eating Royalty‘, royal family chef Darren McGrady described the ball as “an evening of Scottish dancing as a thank you to the servants for all their hard work. Each member of the royal family in residence, as well as their guests, attended.” According to McGrady, the first dance was frequently the “Dashing White Sergeant,” a Scottish country dance performed by two women and one gentleman.
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What Were The Norms Of Celebration?
“Dancing starts at nine-thirty and goes on until about eleven-thirty, when usually the Royal Family leave the ballroom with their guests to take refreshments from a buffet set up in the Castle dining room,” George V, Corbett remembered.
Sally Bedell Smith, Queen Elizabeth’s biographer, stated in ‘Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch‘ that males wear black ties and kilts to the ball, while women wear tiaras, long dresses, and tartan sashes with diamond brooches. Because the ceremony is private, no images or videos are usually shared.
However, the ball was recorded in a series of pictures shot in celebration of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s Silver Wedding Celebrations in 1971. The royal family, including Princess Diana, Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, can be seen performing an Eightsome Reel, a Scottish folk dance, in the documentary.
When Does The Ghillies Ball Take Place?
Every year, the ball is held at the end of the royal family’s summer vacation. Usually in late August or early September. It is hosted at Balmoral Castle’s big ballroom.
According to reports, Queen Elizabeth was working on arrangements for the 2022 Ghillies Ball before her death. Scott Methven, her former Piper, commented, “I was devastated, it feels like I have lost a member of my family. The Queen had invited me up on September 22 to stay and attend the next Ghillies Ball so I was going up in a couple of weeks.” As of now, there have not been any reports of a Ball this year.
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