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One Whitehall Place

Queen Charlotte's Ball 2016


Lukas Kroulik - Creative Director, Visualiser and It-girl Maker


Theme: Alice in Wonderland - decor by Debbie Marks and dresses by Berketex

VIP: Lord and Lady Reay, Baroness Denise Kingsmill, Sir Benjamin Slade, Ms Wendy Yu, Mr and Mrs Dimitri Chandris, Ms Amy Lamb and Ms Sabrina Seckova.


For nearly ten years, I have been helping aspiring debutantes to make their entrance into British high society. Each year, I have had the opportunity to work closely with each girl and her family to train for the London Season, teaching them deportment and helping them to present themselves at their best at the revival of the Queen Charlotte’s Ball, a historic institution that began in 1780 with King George III’s celebrations for his wife’s birthday.


Lukas Kroulik and the debutantes as captured by Getty Images photographer on the day.


After years of donating my creative ideas and directorial efforts to this charitable cause, I had the honor of being made Executive Director of the event, and after trying to outdo myself with a better ball each year, I feel that with this year’s ball I truly made my mark as the one who made it all happen.



My vision for 2016 was to create a fantasy in the dreamlike location that is One Whitehall Place, like something out of Alice in Wonderland. I worked with each debutante individually, who arrived from countries all over the world for the season, for half a year to instruct them in hair, makeup, deportment, social skills, and above all the confidence for a flawless debut.


Lukas Kroulik coached, styled and directed the debutantes for the international media photo-shoot.


Procession rehearsal with Lukas Kroulik.

By working with designers to create the look and feel for the makeup and hair design as well as being in charge of creative design for the event as a whole while incorporating the efforts of Debbie Marks and Berketex, I was able to make dreams come to life at this event that debutantes and guests alike will remember for the rest of their lives.


Her Highness Princess Olga Romanoff with the debutantes and escorts styled by Lukas Kroulik.


One such debutante was Sabrina Ho, who went on to become an it-girl on the London social scene. I even helped to pair the young women with escorts for the ball so that they might be elegantly accompanied. Sabrina Ho was escorted by Archduke Alexander of Austria.


Lukas Kroulik with his Czech and Chinese friends.


Alice Yip, Dona Ding, Angela Leong, Ziwei Luo, Mrs Ding and Sabrina Ho. (L - R)


My work is all about making big statements on a foundation of creativity and inclusivity, and it all came together in this glamorous event in support of the charity Children with Cancer UK and in support of the very London Season itself.


 

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup



Imagine you are organising the event of the year. What would it be like to bring together in one room a Bond girl, the European Sceptic Society's female president, a singer from a famous British girl band and a top business woman?


  • What would this diverse group of amazingly successful women talk about?

  • How would each of them host a glittering table full of polo lovers and enthusiasts?

  • What would they wear and what matching jewellery would they choose?

The answer is in the pictures.




Back in 2016, I had the unique opportunity to co-organise The Royal Salute Coronation Cup event with support from Garrard. I invited all those women I teased you with above: Naomie Harris, Claire Klingenberg, Vanessa White and Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min. Claire and Dato were adorned in Garrard's signature diamond jewellery.



This would not be a stylish event without some true gentlemen. So we hosted Thom Evans (the sports personality), Peter Legler (investor), Chike Okonkwo (English-Nigerian actor) and Jakub Kroulik (the Czech Republic’s star hypnotist). They led the toasts for His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh with Royal Salute whisky in Garrard’s traditional silver cups.



A brass band parade, sunshine and the sight of Prince Philip, the President of the Guards Polo Club, presenting the Garrard Coronation Cup to the winning team… All of this and the sparkling company made the day an experience of a lifetime, in which the guests were treated royally while meeting the Royalty.


 

Ball at Lancaster House


Ziwei Luo, Richard Hilliard, Lukas Kroulik and their guests from China.

One fine evening, a refined group of guests gathered for a ball at Lancaster House. The grand mansion in the embrace of St James’s Palace glowed to receive them, and this unforgettable event entered its guests into a long history of royal festivities. As the producer and designer of the night, it was my personal pleasure to bring this night to life for every invitee.


Richard Hilliard danced with one of the lucky Chinese ladies.



Co-hosting the event with my friend Richard Hilliard, we opened the door to a world of timeless elegance, offering my clients the unique opportunity to become members of the world of London’s high society, mingling with and getting to know royalty and members of the aristocracy like Princess Olga Romanoff and Ella Mountbatten. The evening sparkled with good conversation, high fashion, impeccable etiquette, and the effortless glamour of people having a good time.


Ella Mountbatten with Lukas Kroulik and a friend. (middle and R)

With my hand to guide you through some of the most exclusive locales in London and the education I can provide you in style and fashion, you could shine at the heart of such a night. It will be my pleasure to show you the way.


Her Highness Princess Olga Romanoff talked to the guests throughout the evening.



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