The Flirtatious Regency Balls Of Pride & Prejudice | Having A Ball | Real Royalty

This was made for the BBC and shown back in 2013 for the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice.

I wish there were more "experimental archeology" shows like this!

This is one of the best programs I've ever seen. All of the different elements coming together don't begin to include the number of ordinary people who worked to make this happen. Huntsmen, coachmen, candlemakers maids, dairymen, maybe even smugglers of the liquors. And people making, selling, transporting the champagne,even the people who worked in the fields to harvest to hay to feed the horses. Nothing in society was disconnected from others. And women especially had to make no mistakes that could ruin their or their families social standing. That's why Mr Darcy's rescue of Lydia,by making Wickham marry her, was so outstanding to Lizzie. I'm thinking we should all reread the book

At the beginning of the ball, when they were talking about the guests changing into their slippers and carrying them in a bag, I couldn’t help but wonder if this offers a little context to the iconic moment in Cinderella, where she leaves her slipper on the stair. The notion of losing your shoe on the way out of a party suddenly sounds less ridiculous and a lot more plausible. I’m willing to bet slippers were dropped all the time by guests leaving balls. I love how revealing the unexpected layers in experiments of this type sheds light onto other things.

That frozen alcohol punch sure makes a drunk Mrs. Bennet make a lot more sense now.

My prom dress in 1967. Had an empire waist and puffed sleeves. In a pale mint green. Made by my mom. It was my favorite.

I'm American. Only the British could do such a superb documentary of this Jane Austin world. The actors and actresses and commentators are wonderful. It is so much more interesting than a history book. It's the knowing the actual living of it. From the food to the carriages to the shoes. It's really wonderful.

Wonderful documentary. For me the only missing element was the etiquette of introductions, accepting an offer to dance and the obligation for the gentlemen to ensure no woman was left without a dance partner. This was a key part of Pride and Prejudice and one which wasn't covered here. But then, with such an embarrassment of riches, I can't complain!

This is one of the most romantic, fascinating, and compelling reenactments I've ever watched. Everyone, from the Chef to the Choreographer, know their Austen by heart. Also, Sally Pointer's book, The Artifice of Beauty: A History and Practical Guide to Perfume and Cosmetics, is one of my scriptures for traditional tech and y'all need to buy it.

What we've gained in technology, we've lost in style. Yes, I can't imagine my life without electricity, cars, TV, phones, internet, etc. But houses were nicer back then. Clothes were nicer. Food looked nicer. I wish I could go back for a while.

In one of her shows, Dr Lucy Worsley points out that the men's breeches were skin tight and that men were as happy to show off their bulges as women were to show off their ample bosoms. I wonder if this were true! Great history video.

I was impressed by the presentation of the food and especially the molded creations. Imagine not being able to show your teeth of a smile and laughter an absolute sign of an undesirable woman. The clothing is wonderful as is the dancing. I was surprised at the energy the dancing required considering the clothing the women wore. Thank you for the Pride and Prejudice era brought to life. Now I will read the book again, with the insight depicted of the documentary.

Watching the film is both happy and sad for me. Happy because I danced at a Regency Ball in the house with lots of friends, very much in the style you see. And sad because Stuart Marston (the dancing master) was a friend and gentleman who died recently. He was a fabulous dancer and generous in his kindness and guidance. I can confirm Regency dancing is very exciting and lots of fun. Andrew

That boy who plays Bingley is so cute. I ship Alister and the green dress girl they got some chemistry alright

What a fascinating experience. I loved this video and it brought me new insights from my favourite Austen. I'm old but back in the late 1950s and early 1960s when I was a teenager we had weekly dances at our local church halls, and at birthday parties too, and what did they end with? The Bradford barn dance, where the girls stood in an outer circle and the boys were the inside circle, and moved round from girl to girl and we all danced with each other for a few moments. So much like the Boulanger. We hadn't changed much in 150ish years. 😊

This is such a wonderful documentary of the Regency era, so well done. As a Regency author myself, I enjoyed every detail. Thank you.

Way better show than any so called 'reality' ones. Wow, all these iced dishes with no fridge, they sure were bold. lol

This is a standing ovation presentation which had me enthralled from beginning to end. Thank you so much for all the work that went into producing this. I would love to hear more from those who took part in it which impact the experience had on them. The food also looked amazing and no doubt tasted so. I concur with all the favourable comments that precede mine.

Gosh these modern dancers must be quite unfit compared with society in 1810. But then again people walked a great deal in those days, went to balls regularly, rode horseback and were slimmer. They were quite used to dancing like this for half an hour at a time. Well produced documentary that transported me 200 years into the past.

As for the shoe changing, well I live in Canada, in winter months, we still do it lol