3-065-937 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

State Ball at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Emperor of Russia, 1874. Alexander II in London. 'The state ball given at Buckingham Palace, on the Tuesday evening, by command of the Queen, was a brilliant assembly. The Emperor of Russia and the Grand Duke Alexis were attended by all the officers of her Majesty's household. The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, Princess Louise (Marchioness of Lorne) and the Marquis of Lorne, Prince Arthur, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Teck, and Prince Louis of Battenberg were present at the ball. The Yeomen of the Guard were on duty in the Palace, and a guard of honour of the first battalion Grenadier Guards was in attendance. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by the Imperial visitors and the members of the Royal family, conducted by the Lord Chamberlain and attended by the ladies and gentlemen in waiting, entered the saloon at a quarter before eleven o'clock, when dancing commenced. Coote and Tinney's band was in attendance, conducted by Mr. Coote. The Queen's piper, Mr. Ross, played the music for the Scotch reel, which was danced before the Emperor of Russia'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.