Timewatch, 2001-2002
A film examining the debutante experience of
1939 through the eyes of a colourful collection of debs and debs' delights,
including the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the Duke of Wellington, and the
Duchess of Northumberland. While Europe was steeling itself in the face of
fascist aggression, the upper-class marriage market was in full swing, and here
the participants talk vividly about the parties, ballgowns and broken hearts.
In the United Kingdom, the presentation of
débutantes to the Sovereign at court marked the start of the British social
season. Applications for young women to be presented at court were required to
be made by ladies who themselves had been presented to the Sovereign; the young
woman's mother, for example, or someone known to the family. A mother-in-law
who herself had been presented might, for example, present her new
daughter-in-law.
The presentation of debutantes at court was
also a way for young girls of marriageable age to be presented to suitable
bachelors and their families in the hopes of finding a suitable husband.
Bachelors, in turn, used the court presentation as a chance to find a suitable
wife. Those who wanted to be presented at court were required to apply for
permission to do so; if the application was accepted, they would be sent a
royal summons from the Lord Chamberlain to attend the Presentation on a certain
day. According to Debrett's, the proceedings on that day always started at
10am. As well as débutantes, older women and married women who had not
previously been presented could be presented at Court.
On the day of the court presentation the
débutante and her sponsor would be announced, the debutante would curtsy to the
Sovereign, and then she would leave without turning her back.
The court dress has traditionally been a white
evening dress, but shades of ivory and pink were acceptable. The white dress
featured short sleeves and white gloves, a veil attached to the hair with three
white ostrich feathers, and a train, which the débutante would hold on her arm
until she was ready to be presented. Débutantes would also wear pearls but many
would also wear jewellery that belonged to the family.
After the débutantes were presented to the
monarch, they would attend the social season. The season consisted of events
such as afternoon tea parties, polo matches, races at Royal Ascot, and balls.
Many débutantes would also have their own "coming-out party" or,
alternatively, a party shared with a sister or other member of family.
The last débutantes were presented at Court in
1958 after Queen Elizabeth II abolished the ceremony. Attempts were made to
keep the tradition going by organising a series of parties for young girls who
might otherwise have been presented at Court in their first season (to which
suitable young men were also invited) by Peter Townend.[1] However, the
withdrawal of royal patronage made these occasions increasingly insignificant,
and scarcely distinguishable from any other part of the social season.[2]
However, the expression
"débutante" or "deb" for short continues to be used,
especially in the press, to refer to young girls of marriageable age who
participate in a semi-public upper class social scene. The
expression "deb's delight" is applied to good looking unmarried young
men from similar backgrounds.
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