A proud mother has shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her daughter making her debut in high society at Queen Charlotte’s Ball.
Debbie Marks, CEO and founder of the Qube Decor Group, shared footage of the prestigious event, which took place at One Whitehall Place, London, on Saturday, and starred her daughter, Dahlia Marks, as a debutante.
The annual ball, founded in 1780 by King George III, is considered the highlight of the London Season calendar, and features affluent women aged between 16 and 21.
Among the young women this year was UK-based Dahlia, who attended the event in a flowing white, bridal-style Josephine Scott dress and satin opera gloves.
Her mother, Debbie, later took to TikTok to share insight into what happens at the event.
In the first clip, Dahlia was seen entering the venue in her bridal gown. Debbie wrote, ‘She made it look so easy! Look at that dress by @jospehinescott, so stunning!
Dahlia was then presented to the audience while walking alongside her father, Michael Marks. The father-daughter duo walked down an aisle to classical music before Dahlia curtseyed and exited.
‘When your daughter makes her debut for the London Season,’ Debbie wrote, continuing, ‘This weekend my daughter Dahlia had the honour of being a debutante at the Queen Charlotte’s Ball at the One Whitehall Royal Horseguards hotel in London.’
Debbie Marks has shared a behind-the-scenes look at her daughter, Dahlia Marks (pictured), making her debut in high society at Queen Charlotte’s Ball in London on Saturday
After the ball’s formalities, the debutantes and their dates took to the dance floor to perform a reel dance to traditional music.
Debbie showed her daughter, dressed in a second evening dress, holding hands with other attendees and dancing around in circles.
The ball was created when the custom of returning to the capital at the end of the hunting season was celebrated with glittering balls and high society events.
The annual event, during which wealthy young women don bridal frocks, was founded in 1780 by King George III to celebrate his wife Charlotte’s birthday.
However, it has lost its appeal to the upper echelons of society, according to some etiquette experts, and royals or modern posh British aristocrats are unlikely to attend – despite tables starting at £2,500, meaning attendance is strictly for the well-to-do.
The glittering annual occasion – which saw beautiful young women presented to the monarch – was discontinued in 1958, when the late Prince Philip branded it ‘bloody daft’ and Princess Margaret complained that ‘every t*** in London was getting in’.
But the gala and some of its traditions were relaunched in 2009, albeit without its royal seal of approval, by non profit organisation The London Season.
The ball was then held sporadically at various exclusive venues in the capital to varying degrees of success before being relaunched in 2009 and held annually since.
Dahlia (pictured with fellow debutante Chloe Lawson) celebrated her year of charity fund raising and etiquette classes at the ball
The daughter of Debbie Marks, CEO and founder of the Qube Decor Group, curtseyed during the ball
16-21-year-olds from affluent families attend the annual event, which takes place in London (attendees pictured in 2025)
Lady Howard de Walden, followed by then editor of Tatler, Peter Townend, continued the tradition, and on his death Peter nominated former debutantes Jennie Hallam-Peel and Patricia Woodall to take over the running of The London Season on a voluntary basis as a non profit organisation.
It is now focused on raising money for children in need worldwide and the Queen Charlotte’s Ball has been held in Shanghai and Dubai as well as various grand venues in London.
The London Season runs for six months of the year including sporting events, cocktail parties, dances and concerts, and the ball is the pinnacle of the season.
Each debutante is rigorously interviewed before they are selected, ensuring they are intelligent with good core ethics and either aristocratic or professional backgrounds.
In its modern form, the ball sees well-to-do families enjoy a lavish feast and fine champagne before an evening of dancing.
The debutantes continue the tradition of charity fundraising and etiquette classes to debut at The Queen Charlotte’s Ball.
Each year, around 20 girls are chosen to attend the prestigious ball, and traditional white couture ball gowns are provided on a complimentary basis for debutantes for the evening.
The debutantes undergo an intense interview process in order to secure their position.
Dahlia’s father, Michael Marks (pictured together), presented her to the audience in London on Saturday
The young debutante donned a bridal-style, flowing white dress from Josephine Scott for the occasion
After making her debut, Dahlia danced the night away to traditional folk music alongside her escort
This is said it is to ensure they are intelligent, have particular core ethics, and have either aristocratic or professional backgrounds.
Rather than ‘coming out’ to society, the ladies now work towards charitable efforts and curtsey to a cake, instead of a king.
Families from China, America, India and the Middle East, travel to the lavish gala to celebrate the 20 daughters who have spent the past six months fundraising for charity.
To become a debutante with the London Season, the young women must apply by sending a CV and covering letter with a photograph before being accepted for an interview.
It’s a stark difference to how debutantes were selected when royals were part of the proceedings, with only young women who were sponsored by a lady who was a former debutante being put forward.
Now, once accepted, debutantes – who must pay £500 for their ticket to attend the annual ball – spend six months raising funds for charity through fun runs, ticketed events and bake sales.
Speaking to The Times in March, etiquette coach William Hanson, the author of Just Good Manners said of royals or modern posh British aristocrats, ‘[They] would absolutely not want to be associated with something like Queen Charlotte’s Ball.
‘On the surface it’s posh, but it’s also a bit ‘new money’. People who have not been in Britain for as long might not pick up on these really quite silly social cues.
He added: ‘[New debutantes] might say, ‘It’s a bit of fun. I’ve got a bit of disposable income.
‘Do you know what? I would quite like to get dressed up, do my hair nicely and curtsy to a cake.’ It’s the height of camp.’
Prior to the event, older debutantes are on hand to guide and critique the girls on their dress, dancing and pace around the ballroom.
On the day itself, an army of professional hair and make-up artists are on hand to make sure that the girls are glowing, setting off perfectly coiffed up ‘dos with diamond studded tiaras and precious jewellery on loan from Harrods, Van Cleef & Arpels.
The ‘deb of the year’ is chosen according to ‘who has worked hardest’ during fundraising activities throughout the season and shown the most enthusiasm.
On its website, the London Season states: ‘Queen Charlotte’s Ball continues as a voluntary organisation of people associated historically with the London Season and supporting charitable concerns.
‘It is now acknowledged globally as the most sought after ball in the world and the highlight of the London Season calendar.
‘Tickets are always by personal invitation only and limited to 150 guests.’
A spokesperson for the event has previously said: ‘Seventy per cent of the girls who take part in the ball are bright Oxbridge students who have worked so incredibly hard for our charity The Smile Train.
‘They are accepted into the London Season through application form, curriculum vitae and personal interview and we choose girls who are aspirational.’
