Back in 2022 it was worn in its necklace form by Princess Hélène of Orléans, the second daughter of Prince Charles-Louis (first son of Prince Jacques d’Orléans, Duke d’Orléans) and Princess Iléana of Orléans, Duke and Duchess of Chartres. There is a historic divide between the Orléans and Bourbon families, both of whom claim succession to the French throne. Orléanists consider Jean, Count of Paris, to be the rightful king of France, rather than Princess Eugenia’s father, Prince Louis.
The Orléans family were represented in another way at Le Bal 2024. Princess Hélène’s brotherPrince Constantin d’Orléans, served as the cavalier of the American deb Peyton Spaht, who wore Dolce Gabbana Alta Moda.
Perhaps a less politically volatile sartorial gesture was Princess Eugenia’s dress. The pastel blue Carolina Herrera gown appears to be a piece formerly owned by her mother, Marie-Marguerite Vargas Santaella. The Duchess of Anjou is a Venezuelan heiress to a banking dynasty, and married in to the Bourbon family in 2004. Princess Eugenia is her oldest daughter. In 2010 she welcomed twin sons, Prince Alphonse, Duke of Berry, and Louis, referred to as Dauphin of France and Duke of Burgundy. More recently, in 2019, she had another son, Prince Henri, referred to as the Duke of Touraine.
As is traditional, the Princess was accompanied at ‘Le Bal’ by a cavalier – His Imperial Royal Highness Archduke of Austria, Karl-Konstantin Habsburg-Lothringen of Hungary. The 20-year-old is the son of Eilika of Oldenburg and Georg von Habsburg, who is third in line to the defunct Austro-Hungarian throne.