INDIAN BELLE AT THE QUEEN'S BALL SHIVINA KUMARI

A LONDON-BASED FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL AND THE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF POLO LEGEND MAHARAJ PREM SINGH OF JODHPUR, SHE HAS CREATED HISTORY OF SORTS BY BEING THE FIRST INDIAN TO BE INVITED TO THE PRESTIGIOUS QUEEN CHARLOTTE'S BALL IN LONDON. FROM CURTSYING BEFORE A MULTI-TIERED CAKE TO GRACING HARRODS IN A SARI, SHIVINA RECOUNTS HER EXPERIENCE AND SHARES HER PRIDE IN BEING PART OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF THIS COVETED, OLD-WORLD TRADITION!

- PRIYA KUMARI RANA

As the first Indian invited to Queen Charlotte's Ball in London this year, Kolkata-born Shivina Kumari is living her best life in London.

A risk advisor with Goldman Sachs and an alumna of St Andrews, Scotland, Shivina, who has royal roots, joined debutantes from all over the world at the ball this September. Her participation, alongside debutantes from notable families in the UK, US, Europe, and China, as well as those of exceptional talent who applied to be part of the ball, reflects the new, changing face of a tradition put in motion by King George III as a present for his wife Queen Charlotte 244 years ago.

"In the past, the Ball was all about girls from notable families who were presented to the monarch," says Shivina of the event that 'introduces' 22 young women into society each year. "But as the world changed, it took a hiatus; then, it relaunched under the patronage of the Duke and Duchess of Somerset and it is no longer limited to girls from notable families. There are girls who are in the US Air Force, military and the naval forces; additionally, there are girls in academics and entrepreneurship who have raised millions in charity. It's really taken a new form." 

The pinnacle of the tradition known for over two centuries as the London Season, the Ball was hosted in partnership with Harrods Private Client department and the foundation of the late Prince Nawab Mohsin Ali Khan, whose president is Mrs Frances Stainton, a former London mayor and politician.