CHRONICLES by DEBBIE BANCROFT
Lauren Veronis, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Dr. Jill O’Donnell-Tormey.
Snippets
From the
Social
Scene
A staccato report on parties,
princes and the spring season
Spring sprang and brought with it showers of celebrations,
screenings, royal visits and good works. My days ran with
Sousa-like rhythm . . . black tie, festive, business—boom. Aprons,
hats, jeans—boom. And my chronicle will mimic that rhythm,
with snippets in time to the relentless staccato of the spring season.
“I am madly in love with this prince,” Barbara de Portago admitted
to an equally smitten crowd (well, the girls . . . mostly). She was
toasting His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince George Frederick of
Prussia, in whose presence the Versailles Foundation Dinner was held.
Young, handsome, strapping—he serves soup from his castle to the
poor, runs his family’s foundation and art collection and is a venture
capitalist. And the lucky girl who snags him will be able to choose to
marry in one of the three chapels in his castle: Catholic, Lutheran
or Orthodox, not to mention the possibility of sporting the family’s
35-carat “Petit Sancy” diamond, once owned by Mary Stewart.
The prince is funny. too. He told us of attending a seminar held by an
American bank (“one still in existence”). Speakers were asked to introduce
themselves and tell what generation they were. The beer baron was the
fourth, the tin heir the third. The Prince did some quick calculations and,
just in time, stood and said, “Well, I am the 21st generation.” In keeping
with his family’s long history of military service, the Valley Forge Military
cadets were invited to attend, and gallantly escorted those of us on our
own to our seats. It’s a big switch from my usual walkers.
Gundel Dorrance, the evening décor chair, made the tables sparkle,
as did her dazzling rubies. She was joined by the foundation’s patron,
Gillian Fuller, along with Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia (who discovered
after dinner his familial relationship with the other prince), Barbara
and Ronald Oliver, Preston Neupert and other lovely
members of the new Versailles Court.
© PATRICK MCMULLAN
