The annual Debutante Ball in Paris is once again set to welcome an exclusive circle of young people from some of the world’s most influential families. This glamorous coming-out event is drawing particular attention this year thanks to one pair on the guest list. Among the debutantes will be Eulalia Orleans-Bourbon, goddaughter of Spain’s honorary king Juan Carlos I and one of the most sought-after brides in the rarefied world of European aristocracy. However, all eyes won’t be solely on her — her escort at the luxurious Shangri-La hotel will be none other than Albert Windsor, himself a highly talked-about figure.
Until recently, this young British aristocrat remained in the shadows despite his illustrious family ties and status as heir to the Duchy of Kent. Albert, who turned 19 this September, has suddenly found himself in the spotlight of his country’s elite. The reason: he topped the “most eligible young bachelors” ranking by the esteemed magazine Tatler, surpassing even the Prince of Bhutan and Rod Stewart’s son. Eulalia’s future escort is the son of Lord Nicholas Windsor, who in turn is the son of the current Duke of Kent—the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Thus, Albert is the great-grandson of King George V. It is believed he may follow in his father’s footsteps and study theology at Oxford.
Albert Windsor was born in 2007 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, and, unknowingly, just weeks after his birth, he made history. He was baptized in a Catholic ceremony at St James’s Palace, becoming the first member of the royal family to undergo such a rite since 1688. His father, Lord Nicholas, was excluded from the line of succession after converting to Catholicism in 2001, following the example of his mother, Katharine, Duchess of Kent. Young Albert also became the first royal to be named in honor of the late Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, known within the family as Albert or Bertie.
Despite his noble birth, Albert and his two younger brothers—16-year-old Leopold and 11-year-old Louis—grew up far from London, in Catholic Rome. None of the three brothers are in the line of succession to the British throne. Until recently, the young man appeared in public only on rare occasions, such as at Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding. However, now that he has come of age, the future Duke of Kent seems poised to claim his place in Europe’s high society. Tatler magazine predicts he will be the ‘fairy-tale prince’ at an upcoming ball, where he is set to escort a Spanish aristocrat.
Incidentally, the debutante’s godfather, Juan Carlos I, is one of the most iconic and controversial figures in Spain’s modern history. He ascended the throne in 1975 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco and played a crucial role in the country’s transition to democracy. His reign was long and largely successful, but his later years were marked by a series of scandals involving finances and his personal life. These events seriously damaged the monarchy’s reputation, ultimately leading to his abdication in 2014 in favor of his son, the current king, Felipe VI. Since 2020, the honorary king has lived outside Spain, in Abu Dhabi.
