What's Up Wednesday (Annual Birthday Celebration for the Duke of Swann and the Crown Prince Imperial)

Finally, the social event of 2014, the Birthday Ball of the Crown Prince Imperial and the Duke of Swann, hosted in Britania, took place last night and is blogged here today. 

The Palace of Parliament was the venue to host this half diplomatic and half family affair. The Britanian Government has been very friendly toward the Crown Prince Imperial since his return from exile leading to immense popular support from the public.

The Throne Room has not been used to host a Royal event in almost twenty years and was entirely refurbished for the Birthday Ball. 

The Duke and Duchess of Marlboro were the first to arrive with the Duchess wearing the Pink Topaz Parure from the Marlboro collection.

The Baroness D'Rothchild looked radiant in diamonds.

The camera shy Earl and Countess Basquith attended their first public event as a couple in over a decade.

The Earl and Countess Cartwright looked chiq in monochrome matching outfits.

The handsome bachelor Viscount Farraway arrived with the Marchioness of Londonderry. Could this be a budding romance? The Marchioness chose here famous Amethyst Parure for this important event.

The Duke and Duchess of Argyle, as usual, did not fail to impress with the Duchess (Countess Dysart) wearing a dress made entirely of iridescent beads.

Close-ups of some of the amazing historic jewels worn to this trend setting Royal event.

Next up some foreign Royals began appearing with the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Serbieski being the first.

The growing number of guests now had many others to begin mingling with as more arrived.

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Reichenthal, personal friends of the Duke of Swann were very honoured to attend his and his cousin's Birthday Ball.

The Princess Youssopoff, as is now a precedent, illicited gasps from the guests as she entered the Ball Room with her spectacular dress.

Representing Ruskiana, was the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna in purple.

First to arrive representing the former Imperial Family of Scot-Britania was Princess Augusta, the Crown Prince Imperial's aunt.

The King and Queen of Syldavia.

The Princess of Wallachia with her husband the Baron Bagrazia and followed by her mother Princess Suzanna.

Queen Gloria of Normandia attended the ball with her cousin the Duchess of Roswind. Both their husbands had other important engagements to take care of.

Next to arrive in sequence from left to right were the Queen of Hispania, the one birthday boy the Duke of Swann, his sister the Arch Duchess of Fulco D'Este, Prince Dillon of Swann and the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Hanoveria.

Queen Maria of Hispania wore a show stopper blue dress that had the whole room focussed on her entrance.

Finally, with the Crown Prince Imperial and Crown Princess Imperial's arrival the guests assembled for the group photo and speech.

The Crown Prince Imperial couple looked the part.

The Crown Princess Imperial wore the famous D'Pont Du Lac Emerald Parure to spectacular effect with a baroque style black ball gown.

First up a close-up photo for the press...

...and then a full group photo to commemorate this happy event.

After the speech the guests were released to mingle some more.

When the music started the dance floor was soon filled.

The guests danced the night away making for a ver successful party and a diplomatic tour d'force for both Britania and the Crown Prince Imperial.  The very conspicuous absence of Lady Arcwhite at this event where she would have undoubtedly been expected to attend has raised many questions in the minds of the public. Media coverage of late has reported Arcwhite to have grown diplomatically cold. The Lady's absence may be viewed as a political snub to the popularity shown the Crown Prince Imperial in the very country that has caused Arcwhite so much grief over the centuries. Political analysts however suspect something far more sinister and all we can do is watch how events pan out. The Duke of Swann was quoted to say that he is concerned for the people of Arcwhite as disturbing reports have been mentioned to him in confidence. 

All said and done, the Royal Birthday Ball was a huge success and a media sensation worth of the history books.