Some brilliant fancy dress balls (with a view to encouraging home trade) have taken place during the Victorian era. Of the first, which was given by the Queen and Prince Consort at Buckingham Palace in 1842, a permanent memorial exists in two handsome volumes compiled by J. R. Planché, containing carefully coloured illustrations of the various dresses, and autograph portraits of the wearers. They form an invaluable book of reference for those desiring accurate representations of the costume of the period of Edward III. (1327-1377). A special feature of this ball was a series of costume quadrilles, arranged by ladies of the Court and others of high rank. They were danced in the following order:—
French quadrille, led by H. R. H. the Duchess of Cambridge.
Spanish quadrille, led by the Duchess of Buccleuch.
German quadrille, led by the Duchess of Sutherland.
Crusaders' quadrille, led by the Marchioness of Londonderry.
Waverley quadrille, led by the Countess de la Warr.
Scotch quadrille, led by the Duchess of Buccleuch.
Cossack quadrille, led by Baroness Bremon.
Greek quadrille, led by the Duchess of Leinster.
