Being Presented to the Queen

It was not a requirement that anyone be presented to the queen before dancing at Almack's or being considered "out." Girls could be "out" and attend social gatherings any number of seasons before being presented. Some never were presented until after they married, and some, not at all. All brides of peers and men who attended court had to be presented though, even if they were presented before marriage. Also the wives of the diplomatic corps were presented.

Some of the patronesses of Almack's felt they were more exclusive than court, and that being presented was not nearly as important as securing a voucher for the hallowed halls of snobbery they called Almack's. However, being presented was a great recommendation to the young lady who was so privileged. Of course, not attending on a drawing room might have made people wonder if the family had money problems. Those ugly gowns which made a lady's figure look as terrible as possible were ridiculously expensive and couldn't be worn anywhere else!

Many young ladies would all have been presented at the same time when the queen held her "drawing room." There's a great book about this topic, GILDED BUTTERFLIES: The rise and fall of the London Season by Philippa Pullar.

Queen Caroline never gave "drawing rooms." It was always Queen Charlotte who did it. Though Queen Charlotte scheduled drawing rooms fairly frequently up until 1811, after that date they were irregular and spread apart. After Queen Charlotte died in 1818, the Prince Regent/George IV had his sisters hold drawing rooms.

When a young lady was about the right age, normally about 17 or 18, her mother or the female who was sponsoring the girl sent in a notice to the Chamberlain that she wished to present her daughter at the next drawing room. The sponsor had to have already been presented herself before she could sponsor anyone else. The chamberlain then sent her the date of the next drawing room, and a list of requirements for dress and number of feathers. In Gilded Butterflies, Pullar says that court required feathers as soon as society decided they didn't want them any more.

April 30.1812 “The Queen held a drawing room at St. James's Palace. It being the first which her Majesty has held since the King's birth day in 1810, and there having been no Court for the ladies during a lapse of nearly two years, great preparations were made by the higher ranks for their appearance on this occasion.”

On the proper day, the girl went with her mother or chaperon. At the presentation, the girls each went forward as called out. She knelt to the queen. The queen kissed the daughters of the peers and often spoke to them as well, but gave her hand to be kissed by anyone else. The girl then stood and backed away from the queen. She could not look behind her and could not turn her back on the queen....all without tripping on their train. Eeeks! Then they usually went home.

Can you think of any modern customs that had such a build up, caused such a huge expense, and then, after a very short time, was all over?

I can think of a few....