The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop

The celebration of Queen Victoria’s 60 years on the throne was carefully positioned to highlight the country’s strength. Extraordinary pageantry, parades and royal receptions served to dramatise the unparalleled significance of the event. The most important occasion, however, was the Devonshire House Ball, given at huge expense by the Hanover-born German ‘Double Duchess’ of Devonshire. The Duchess took to the task with alacrity, hosting the most famous party of the century: a fancy-dress ball with a guest list of the 700 social, cultural, political, and prominent ‘celebrities’ of the day. A specially commissioned tent – equipped with hand-painted backdrops, the most technically advanced cameras and lighting, along with realistic props – was set up in the magnificent gardens to capture the glamorous guests. Many of the exquisite costumes were preserved by photograph and are shown here, colourised for the first time.