Royals’ interest in Ballet & Dance

[Elly C]

I’m starting a thread that combines two interests of mine.
A recent news article which I was about to post on Queen Camilla’s current event thread made me stop and think it would be good to bring together various royals participation and interest in the ballet and dance world.
Here’s the recent Queen Camilla news item:-

Queen Camilla becomes the new Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance

Queen Camilla was Vice-Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance since 2020, with Queen Elizabeth II as Patron from 1953 until her death in 2022.

www.gramilano.com

The Queen has long been a keen balletomane and this appointment will fit her like a glove.

Princess Caroline is another balletomane. There’s many pics of her as a young girl taking ballet classes and she is now Patron of Les Ballet de Monte Carlo.

Getty Images

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www.gettyimages.ae

Princess Caroline opened a new studio at The Princess Grace Dance Academy

Princess Caroline wore a braided boucle tweed military jacket by Celine Paris. Christian Louboutin brown suede boots. Celine Triomphe shoulder bag

www.newmyroyals.com

Apart from pics of royals current and past attending the ballet ( often as part of a special celebration within a royal family or for an official visit), I thought we could share other items such as the discussion a few years ago surrounding the news that Prince George was taking ballet lessons.

TV host forced to apologise after mocking Prince George's ballet lessons

'What a shameful, outdated, harmful attitude.'

metro.co.uk

Princess Diana was another royal who both participated in and enjoyed ballet

Princess Diana's secret ballet school visits are revealed in photos

Princess Diana never lost her love of ballet. Just how much it meant to her is revealed in a unique collection of photographs of Diana's visits - both public and private - to the London City Ballet.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Some other royals attending the ballet:-
Maxima at Netherlands Dance Theatre Queen Máxima visits Nederlands Dans Theater
The Danish Royals attend the Nutcracker Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark take their twins, 11, to dazzling premiere of The Nutcracker
The Spanish Royal Ladies attend the ballet in Mallorca Queen Letizia of Spain looks majestic in Mallorca

Well enough links from me. Hope there’s others here who will share my interest.

English National Ballet School - English National Ballet School

www.enbschool.org.uk

Princess Beatrice attended performance by English National School . Beatrice is their patron.

 

[Prinsara]

An old article from 1988 that touches on Caroline founding the Monaco ballet. HER (FINALLY) SERENE HIGHNESS

 

[Alison H]

Princess Charlotte is said to like ballet.

 

[Elly C]

Photos of the British Royal Family with ballet dancers.

29 Beautiful Photos of the Royal Family at the Ballet

Here, take a look back at the royal family's history of supporting the art of dance.

www.townandcountrymag.com

I have always liked the one of Diana surrounded by dancers from English National Ballet.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Princess Caroline and the late Princess Margaret spring too mind with royalty and ballet!

Catherine de Medicis had the first ballet performed at the French Court
The queen who instituted the ballet de cour, Catherine de’ Medici: Women’s History Month in Dance, 2021 — Alastair Macaulay

 

[Elly C]

King Charles has been made Patron of the Royal Ballet

His Majesty King Charles III announced as Patron of The Royal Ballet

His Majesty King Charles III will continue to serve as Patron of the Royal Opera House and The Royal Opera but has accepted Patronage of The Royal Ballet.

www.gramilano.com

 

[An Ard Ri]

Princess Margaret with Rudolf Nureyev in March 1968 at the newly opened Royal Academy of Dancing building in Knightsbridge.
Getty Images

 

[Elly C]

Just loving Nureyev’s boots!

 

[An Ard Ri]

Just loving Nureyev’s boots!

And Princess Margaret looks really pleased too!

 

[Elly C]

A very interesting and wide ranging article about the relationship between royals and the ballet

Kings and Queens and Ballet

At the time of the Coronation of King Charles III and his Queen, Camilla, it seems appropriate to take a bit of a dive into the relationships between royalty and ballet.

butterflydancewear.nz

A lovely pic of Princess Grace with Margot Fonteyn

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/princess-grace-of-monaco-left-smiles-as-she-holds-hands-and-chats-with-british-ballerina-dame-margot-fonteyn--836191855817091946/

A Dutch family outing to the ballet

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands goes to the ballet

Queen Maxima put on a stylish display as she joined King Willem-Alexander to mark his aunt's 80th birthday last night at the Orpheus Theatre in Apeldoorn.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Elly C]

Queen Sophia with Alicia Alonso, a ballet legend who founded the National Ballet of Cuba

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/407575835021953664/

 

[Elly C]

Although it’s usually Princess Caroline we associate with ballet these days, here’s a cute pic. of a young Princess Stephanie.

Getty Images

Getty Images. Find high resolution royalty-free images, editorial stock photos, vector art, video footage clips and stock music licensing at the richest image search photo library online.

www.gettyimages.com

 

[Elly C]

Queen Camilla is a silver swan!

Queen Camilla reveals she does 'Silver Swans' dance for seniors

Queen Camilla revealed that she takes part in 'Silver Swans' dance lessons for seniors during a visit to The English National Ballet in east London today.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I love that she chose to wear one of her gorgeous ballerina brooches - yes, she has several.

A New Golden Ballerina Brooch for Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla presented a dance icon with a special honor at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, and she wore a brand-new ballet-themed jewel for the occasion. Representatives from the Royal Academy of Dance joined Queen Camilla

www.thecourtjeweller.com

 

[Elly C]

I love that the Princess of Wales chose to attend the ballet as part of her recovery and gradual return to public life. I have seen this particular production - a reimagining and interesting interpretation of the classic ballet Giselle.it’s certainly inspiring as the Princess has said.

Princess of Wales attends ‘inspiring’ ballet show as cancer recovery continues

The Princess of Wales has attended a “moving and inspiring” ballet performance as she continues her recovery from cancer.Kate attended the English National Ballet’s matinee show […]

jerseyeveningpost.com

 

[cdm]

When Bernice Coppieters danced her last show for the Ballets de Monte Carlo, Caroline, Albert and Alexandra were present and very emotional.
https://youtu.be/-yt06Ly0RCo?si=dQQ7rHnOqLfhEHtb

 

[stunking]

Great thread, thanks for starting it. I have been a balletomane for a very long time.

 

[hmmyarn]

Thank you for the Diana&Ballett article. Seems she was dancing a lot in her youth

 

[Elly C]

When Bernice Coppieters danced her last show for the Ballets de Monte Carlo, Caroline, Albert and Alexandra were present and very emotional.

Thank you so much for posting this. Caroline has long been a firm supporter of the Ballet de Monte Carlo. She appears to have loved ballet as a child and her patronage since taking over from her mum, is certainly not carried out as a duty but as a genuine balletomane.

I came across this little gallery of the American painter Robert Heindel who is particularly known for his paintings of dancers. The gallery includes pictures of the painter with both Princess Caroline and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Princess Caroline and Robert Heindel

Princess Caroline and Robert Heindel at a reception at the Hotel de Paris in 1986.

www.rheindel.com

 

[Elly C]

A lovely picture of Princess Alexandra attending a performance by the Royal Ballet.

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www.gettyimages.fr

 

[Elly C]

A short clip about the Royal Ballet dancers and students of the Royal Ballet School who performed at the Together at Christmas concert in Westminster Abbey organised by the Princess of Wales.

Royal Ballet School on Instagram: "⭐️ Inside rehearsals for Royal Carols: Together at Christmas on ITV tonight at 19.30 with our Year 7 students and Royal Ballet Soloists Ashley Dean and Benjamin Ella ⭐️ We spoke with dancer and choreographer Ashley

5,426 likes, 26 comments - royalballetschool on December 24, 2024: "⭐️ Inside rehearsals for Royal Carols: Together at Christmas on ITV tonight at 19.30 with our Year 7 students and Royal Ballet Soloists Ashley Dean and Benjamin Ella ⭐️ We spoke with dancer and choreographer Ashley Dean about...

www.instagram.com

Princess Charlotte seemed delighted by the performance which apparently was a complete surprise.

Princess Charlotte Couldn't Stop Smiling at Mom Kate Middleton's Christmas Carol Concert

The little royal's cute reactions have melted the hearts of fans around the world.

www.marieclaire.com

 

[Elly C]

Some great pics of Lady Sarah Chatto who is now President of the Royal Ballet School, taken by her father, Lord Snowdon, when she was a child. The pics show her taking a ballet class given by the wonderful, Irish woman, Dame Ninette de Valois, who founded the School and (indeed the Royal Ballet, when it was called Sadler Wells Ballet). At the bottom of the page is a pic of Lady Sarah visiting the School when she was Vice President.

Sarah Chatto seen at a dance class aged 10 in pictures from 1974

Lady Sarah was pictured by Lord Snowdon at her dancing school in Hammersmith, West London, in 1974. This month she was named the new president of the Royal Ballet School.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[An Ard Ri]

I was delighted to see Lady Sarah Chatto appointment as President of the Royal Ballet School.

 

[Elly C]

I was delighted to see Lady Sarah Chatto appointment as President of the Royal Ballet School.

Me too. It’s great when there’s genuine interest and enthusiasm from a royal towards the activity/cause to which they are appointed . In Sarah’s case, her Mum was an avid supporter of ballet and held a similar position.

 

[An Ard Ri]

The Ballet Royal de la Nuit was performed at the Petit-Bourbon in Paris in February 1653.
Louis XIV appeared as Apollo the Sun King/Le Roi Soleil and other courtiers .

His mother the queen Regent,Anne of Austria watched the performance with other nobles and guests.

 

[Elly C]

A gallery of rare photos showing Diana attending various ballet rehearsals.

Princess Diana's secret ballet school visits are revealed in photos

Princess Diana never lost her love of ballet. Just how much it meant to her is revealed in a unique collection of photographs of Diana's visits - both public and private - to the London City Ballet.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[cdm]

An article in Dutch on Princess Beatrix and the National Ballet.
https://theaterencyclopedie.nl/wiki/50_jaar_Het_Nationale_Ballet_-_Beatrix_en_ballet

 

[Elly C]

Queen Margrethe has revealed a hidden talent of designing costumes and set design for the Nutcracker ballet .

Queen Margrethe's hidden talent blows crowds away

The Queen abdicated in January 2024 and crowned her son, Frederik, as the new Danish monarch

www.hellomagazine.com

 

[Somebody]

She’s been doing that for ages. How is it a hidden talent?

 

[Elly C]

She’s been doing that for ages. How is it a hidden talent?

It’s hidden in the sense that it’s not something widely known outside artistic circles .

Also to say I am not aware if she has designed ballet costumes previously.

 

[Somebody]

It’s hidden in the sense that it’s not something widely known outside artistic circles .

Also to say I am not aware if she has designed ballet costumes previously.

Anyone with some interest in Queen Margrethe as a person would know that this is her passion. She's designed ballet costumes since the late 1980's... Last year she received the Robert Award as the Costume Designer of the Year.

See here for more information.