皇冠体育app

Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders and Defence Minister Pieter De Crem joined British Ambassador to Belgium Jonathan Brenton to celebrate 鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Most Famous Ball in History鈥�, a Charity fund-raising Duchess of Richmond鈥檚 Ball Brussels 2013.

皇冠体育app charity Ball, organised by the British Embassy and the Brussels British Community Association in close cooperation with the Palais d鈥橢gmont and the kind support of Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, commemorates an historic event held in June 1815, when the Duchess of Richmond organised a Ball in Brussels for the officers of Wellington鈥檚 army and distinguished guests.

During the Ball, a message arrived from Prussian commander Prince Blucher warning of Napoleon鈥檚 approach. In the early hours of the morning, officers slipped away to join their troops in Quatre Bras, and the Battle of Waterloo 2 days later.

Last weekend though, there were fortunately no battles fought, apart from at the lively charity auction with bidders raising generous funds to support worthwhile causes. 皇冠体育app Ball was also a fantastic opportunity to mark an important date in history with a military band, re-enacters, ballroom dancing, pomp and circumstance, and all of this for charity.

In addition to our regular causes, the 2013 Ball funds will go to聽l鈥橦么pital聽des Enfants. 皇冠体育app Children鈥檚 University Hospital in Laeken is the only Belgian Hospital entirely dedicated to Children, caring for over 11,000 children every year.聽

皇冠体育app 2013 ball will also support the Royal British Legion, the Community Help Service and the British Charitable Fund, and is held in partnership with Project Hougoumont; an Anglo-Belgian project to raise money for the reconstruction of the Hougoumont farm house, scene of the some of the fiercest fighting聽 during the battle.

British Ambassador to Belgium, Jonathan Brenton:

It is a delight to celebrate this wonderful charity event in the run-up to the 2015 Waterloo anniversary. 皇冠体育app UK has always been a long-standing ally of Belgium and its people. We celebrate history because it is a reminder of how much things have changed for the better.聽皇冠体育app Battle of Waterloo in 1815 was the last time the British and French armies fought against each other. We have been military allies ever since. I hope this year鈥檚 Ball can raise funds for excellent Belgian and British charities in Belgium. And I thank the Belgian Foreign Minister Reynders for hosting the Ball in the Palais d鈥橢gmont and Defence Minister De Crem for honouring the Ball with his presence.

皇冠体育app national francophone television station RTBF covered the Ball. You can find this report in French here:

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