Debutante reveals differences between Bridgerton and real life society balls

A debutante has opened up about the differences between real life society balls and those portrayed on Bridgerton, revealing they’re not as glamorous as they seem.

A debutante has opened up about the differences between real life society balls and those portrayed in Bridgerton.

The hit Netflix series shows the glamorous affairs as an occasion for a young woman to court a potential husband, but, as reported by The Sun, Helena Vardag-Walters insists they are more about networking than romance for attendees these days.

“Originally it was presenting young women at court as newly eligible for marriage,” the 17-year-old told Insider.

“It was all about getting these young women married because that was how women had power in those days.

“Nowadays, it’s much more about meeting other like-minded and intelligent and driven women.”

Helena Vardag-Walters has spoken about The Queen Charlotte‘s Ball. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

Helena is one of around 22 young women who attended the event. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

Helena opened up about the differences between real life society balls and those portrayed in Bridgerton. Picture: Liam Daniel/Netflix

Helena is one of around 22 young women who attended Queen Charlotte’s Ball – an event which was founded by England’s King George III in 1780, in honour of his wife Queen Charlotte.

While the ball was traditionally used for the women to make their entrance into society – all wearing white bridal-type gowns and diamond jewellery – it’s now more about raising money for charity.

While there’s not a ‘diamond’, several girls are chosen to cut the ceremonial Queen Charlotte cake. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

“It’s not about being the most marriageable,” Helena added.

“It’s about how much you can do to help with the charity and how much you can contribute.”

Another difference between the real life events and the fictional ones in Bridgerton is that the latter see one woman chosen as the “diamond of the season”. That doesn’t happen in reality.

Instead, several of the girls are chosen by chairman of The London Season, Jennie Hallam-Peel, to cut the ceremonial Queen Charlotte cake.

These days, picking women to cut the ceremonial cake was more about how much the attendees contributed to raising money for charity. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

While the ball was traditionally used for the women to make their entrance into society, it’s now more about raising money for charity. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images

“It was less about whether or not they were the diamonds, but more how much work they did,” Ms Hallam-Peel, who puts on the event, said of the decision.

Like in Bridgerton, guests at the ball have to learn traditional dances, with Helena admitted that nailing the Viennese waltz ahead of September’s ball was “difficult”.

But later in the evening, things liven up, and debutantes and other guests are able to dance to more “modern” music.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Debutante reveals differences between Bridgerton and real life society balls