It's called the ultimate summer event - the crowning event of the London season.

But not everybody (or just anyone for that matter) can hope to be part of Queen Charlotte's Ball.

The guest list for this annual event held this month is picked with care - the criterion being that you should be from one of the rich and happening families.

After months of careful preparation and spending over £2,500 (S$5,000) on each ticket, the young debutantes show off their skills in poise and elegance.

In the past, these balls were seen as a rite of passage for the young women of the British upper classes, an opportunity to introduce themselves to society or seek out suitors.

For the present generation, though, this event is seen as an opportunity to wear a designer gown, party their way around Europe and do their bit for charity.

The young women, all aged between 17 and 20, spent months preparing for their dramatic entrance into the ballroom and went to several dress fittings to make sure their couture gowns fit perfectly.

Maria Austin, 20, a drama and theatre studies student at Royal Holloway, one of the largest colleges in University of London, was one of the young women at the event.

Miss Austin, who is planning to become a classical actor or go into business development, told the Daily Mail that she was attracted to the event partly because of the charity work the girls do.

"A lot of my friends went over to Malawi and Cambodia and did something worthwhile, and I wanted to have the chance to give something back a little bit, so I was really interested in the charity side of it."

The event involved meetings with aristocracy, etiquette classes and fund-raising, and the "deb of the year" was chosen according to "who has worked hardest" during fund-raising activities throughout the season and shown the most enthusiasm (she is usually the prettiest too, although that is not an official judging requirement).

This year's "deb of the year" is Miss Talitha Piggott.

The Ball was introduced by King George III in 1780 to celebrate his wife's birthday. A big cake is one of the highlights.

The event is not without his critics, the most prominent being Prince Philip who dubbed it "bloody daft". Others have slammed it as "elitist".

For the girls, though, it's all about following the traditional Queen Charlotte's cake in to the ballroom where the girls perform special curtsies to the nine-tier-high gateaux before being judged on their posture, elegance and pace.

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Photos: Reuters

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