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Harper's Bazaar

Photos of Kate and Other Royals Supporting Ballet Through The Years

September 24, 2021, 10:36 AM

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<p>Diana's surprise turn on stage is the stuff of legend at this point, but in general, the Windsors are more likely to attend a performance than to star in one. Here, 28 photos that take a look back at the royal family's history of supporting the ballet.<br></p>

<p>Sophie, Countess of Wessex unveils a plaque at the opening of the Countess of Wessex Studios at the Central School of Ballet.</p>

<p>Camilla meets a young dancer during her visit to Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, of which she is a patron.</p>

<p>Prince Charles and Camilla pose with ballet dancers during a visit to the Acosta Dance Company during their tour of Havana, Cuba. They are the first British royals to ever make an official visit to the country.</p>

<p>Duchess Kate watches Royal Ballet principal dancers Lauren Cuthbertson and Vadim Muntagirov rehearsing the romantic ballet "The Two Pigeons" during her visit to the Royal Opera House.</p>

<p>Here is Duchess Kate is having a laugh with some of the dancers.</p>

<p>The scene of Kate in her fuchsia skirt suit was reminiscent of this photo of Princess Diana surrounded by ballerinas at the English National Ballet's 1997 production of Swan Lake.</p>

<p>The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall pose with students of Elmhurst Ballet School.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a17007111/princess-margaret-children/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Princess Margaret's daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto" class="link ">Princess Margaret's daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto</a> clearly inherited her mother's love of ballet. She currently serves as Vice President of the Royal Ballet. </p>

<p>Prince Charles greets young dancers from the Elmhurst Ballet school during a visit to reopen Birmingham's town hall in 2008.</p>

<p>Queen Elizabeth ascends a staircase lined with ballerinas while visiting the Royal Albert Hall in 2004.</p>

<p>Prince Charles currently serves as the President of the Royal Ballet. Here is is watching a lesson at the organizations's White Lodge School in Richmond Park in 2004.</p>

<p>Prince Charles talks to pupils at the White Lodge School after observing their lesson.</p>

<p>Prince Charles is clearly enjoying himself as he speaks with ballet dancers Darcey Bussell and Carlos Acosta at the Royal Opera House in 2004.</p>

<p>Margaret engages in conversation with ballerina Darcey Bussell after a performance in 1998.</p>

<p>The Queen visits with dancers from "Sleeping Beauty" at the Royal Opera House in 1996.</p>

<p>In her role as patron of the English National Ballet, Princess Diana attends a performance of "Alice in Wonderland" in 1996. </p>

<p>Princess Diana shares a smile with a young dancer while visiting the London headquarters of the English National Ballet in December of 1995.</p>

<p>It isn't just the English ballet companies that interest the royals. For example, here is Diana with dancers during a visit to Paris.</p>

<p>Princess Diana meeting with members of the Bolshoi Ballet during her visit to Moscow in 1995.</p>

<p>Princess Diana speaks with dancer Rudolph Nureyev at the Royal Opera House.</p>

<p>Princess Margaret was a lifelong ballet enthusiast. Here she is making introductions as the president of the Royal Ballet in 1993. </p>

<p>A young Queen Elizabeth II appears here with Rudolph Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn in 1969.</p>

<p>Ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev accompanies Princess Margaret down the stairs of the Royal Academy of Dancing in Knightsbridge in 1968.</p>

<p>Princess Margaret and Lithuanian-born ballerina Svetlana Beriosova chat backstage at the Adelphi Theatre gala in 1968.</p>

<p>Queen Elizabeth receives a curtsy from a young dancer from the Winnipeg Ballet during her royal tour of Canada in 1951.</p>

<p>The Queen mother was also a patron of the arts. Here she is at the opening of Covent Garden Royal Opera House in 1946.</p>

<p>A rare photo of then-Princess Elizabeth attending the ballet with her sister, parents, and grandmother. This was taken at the reopening of the Royal Opera House at the end of World War II.</p>

<p>The Queen Mother speaks with dancers after a 1939 gala performance at the Royal Opera House.</p>

Here, take a look back at the royal family's history of supporting the art of dance.

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