Some evenings quietly fade into memory. Others simply wait for someone willing to bring them back to life. In 1967, under the High Patronage of Princess Grace of Monaco, the Order of Malta Ball was held in Paris, embodying the understated elegance that has long distinguished great charitable endeavors, where refinement finds its true purpose only in the cause it serves. Then the years passed, and this prestigious gathering gradually disappeared from the Parisian social calendar. Nearly six decades later, the Ball has returned in the exceptional setting of the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée. Under the High Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover, this new edition represents far more than the revival of a distinguished social event. It rekindles a shared memory, restores a bond between generations, and reminds us that there are still places where beauty can become a language of solidarity. At the heart of this renaissance stands one woman. A woman who does not seek the spotlight, but quietly ensures that it shines on others. As Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Order of Malta Ball Paris, Françoise Péricaud-Duval believes that every detail carries meaning, not because of a pursuit of aesthetic perfection for its own sake, but because the care devoted to every element ultimately reflects the care devoted to every person. Her Royal Highness Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma and His Serene Highness Prince Charles von Croÿ. She conceived the evening as one would compose a collective work, with discipline, intuition, a profound sense of beauty, and unwavering fidelity to the spirit of the Order. Behind the floral arrangements, the elegantly laid tables, the patrons, the charity auction, the conversations, and the opening notes of the Ball lies what truly matters: enabling the 68th Lourdes Pilgrimage to continue its mission in support of the most vulnerable. It is a conviction that Françoise Péricaud-Duval expresses with almost disarming simplicity: when elegance is guided by charity, appearance gives way to service. Reviving a Legacy “Some traditions do not return because they belong to the past. They return because they still have something to offer the present.” Levant Time - This Ball had not been held in Paris since 1967. When you were entrusted with this project, did you first feel the weight of its history, or the freedom to write a new chapter? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - I felt both. First, the weight of history, because the Order of Malta has existed for more than nine hundred years. It is active in nearly one hundred and thirty countries and has a very strong presence in France, where thousands of us volunteer our time. Being part of this great chain of charity, love, faith, and selfless service to the most vulnerable is something truly extraordinary. At the same time, I knew I was facing a blank page. I had organized events while living in London, but this time I was starting entirely from scratch. Everything had to be built. The task was immense. Yet I believe I was sustained by my faith. When I accepted, I had not fully realized how long the road ahead would be. The idea of bringing this tradition back to life in France, my country, a country I love deeply, moved me profoundly. I was equally touched by the confidence that Olivier de La Chapelle, President of the French Association of Members of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, placed in me. L. T. - When you discovered the archives of the last Ball, held under the High Patronage of Princess Grace of Monaco, what moved or inspired you the most? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - We were fortunate enough to recover a photograph from the last Order of Malta Ball held in Paris, on April 11, 1967. Our Ball took place on April 11, 2026, exactly fifty-nine years later, to the day. The photograph showed Prince Guy de Polignac, who was then President of the Order of Malta in France, standing alongside Princess Grace of Monaco. Mr. Stéphane Bern, Françoise Péricaud-Duval and Baroness Olivier de La Chapelle. Françoise Péricaud-Duval and His Royal Highness Prince Charles-Louis of Orléans, Duke of Chartres. His Royal Highness Bailiff Prince Louis de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou. I am very close to Diane de Polignac and her brother Ludovic, the niece and nephew of Prince Guy de Polignac. Diane had always told me that if I were ever to become involved again with the Order of Malta in France, she wished to be part of the adventure. At that time, I had no idea that their uncle had presided over the last Ball. Discovering that photograph therefore carried a very special meaning. I saw it as a gentle wink from history. Diane sincerely wanted to help organize the event, and her support proved extraordinary. For a year and a half, we spoke almost every day. Having Diane and Ludovic de Polignac present at this new edition soon became an obvious choice. That continuity between generations was something truly beautiful. L. T. - How do you revive a tradition without simply trying to reproduce the past? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - I believe in chains of love and in bringing beautiful souls together. When you pursue beauty and compassion, you naturally attract others. To me, the path of faith is a joyful one, but it cannot be walked alone. We need to be many, as many as possible. There was genuine enthusiasm throughout the evening and long after the Ball had ended. That is how I live my faith: by trying to share it. Andreas Oetker, Alfred Oetker and his wife, Princess Elvira Grimaldi, and Maximilian Terberger. Princess Diane de Polignac, Charles Noël de Cacqueray, Alejandra Poupel, Françoise Péricaud-Duval, Baron Olivier de La Chapelle, Marie-Gabrielle de La Chapelle, Armand de Vial, Diane de Noailles de Mouchy de Poix and Paola Obligi. His Excellency Baron Olivier de La Chapelle, President of the French Association of Members of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover, Prince Ludovic de Polignac, Ariane de Chazournes and her mother, Princess Diane de Polignac. I certainly do not live it as though I were carrying a sack of stones on my back. I am convinced that beauty and goodness belong together. God has given us a wonderful world. I am fascinated by wildlife, by nature, by the complexity and perfection found in every animal and every flower. Out of respect for the world we have been given, I believe we too should strive to create beauty. Being a perfectionist and seeking beauty are not at odds with charity. One can be charitable while striving to do everything as well as possible. Giving the very best of oneself is, in my eyes, a duty. Elegance in the Service of a Mission “Within the Order of Malta, the beauty of an evening has meaning only when it extends a mission dedicated to others.” L. T. - Many people will see this first and foremost as a gala. You probably see it first as a mission. What message would you like those who attended the evening to take away with them? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to them. We began working on this project in October 2024 for an event that took place on April 11, 2026. I assembled an organizing committee made up of friends who were all extraordinary. For a year and a half, I kept repeating a phrase that eventually became something of an inside joke among us: “One team, one dream.” I truly believe in that idea. We all have our weaknesses, but each of us contributes something essential. It is by working together that we succeed. An exceptional spirit developed within the committee. We all gave the very best of ourselves to make the evening beautiful, but also to ensure that our guests genuinely enjoyed themselves. It mattered deeply to me that young people should dance, laugh, and experience a truly joyful evening. The greatest compliment I received came from several young guests who told me it was the most beautiful evening they had ever attended. Some began dancing before dinner had even ended and barely returned to their seats. The support of Alejandra Poupel, a member of the organizing committee and founder of Alejandra Poupel Events, Inspiration Music & Arts, and Novelty, played an essential role in the Ball’s success. The singers, saxophonists, percussionists, and violinists created an extraordinary atmosphere. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles-Louis and Princess Iléana of Orléans, together with four of their children: Their Royal Highnesses Princesses Louise, Hélène and Isabelle, and His Royal Highness Prince Constantin of Orléans. Her Royal Highness Princess Antonella of Orléans-Bourbon and her daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Eulalia of Orléans-Bourbon. His Royal Highness Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, accompanied by two of their children, Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Nassau and His Royal Highness Prince Paul-Louis of Nassau. Everyone knew, however, that they were attending a charity Ball and that their presence was helping to finance the Lourdes Pilgrimage. We therefore sought to unite those two dimensions: the awareness of serving a cause and the joy of sharing an exceptional evening. Joy was, in fact, one of the things that struck me most the very first time I attended the Lourdes Pilgrimage. I was deeply moved by the joy of the sick and disabled pilgrims. Those of us who have received so much should be capable of living with that same joy. When one has the gift of faith, it should be lived joyfully. That is the message I wanted this Ball to convey. L. T. - How do you strike the right balance between the refinement expected of such an event and the humility of the cause it supports? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - It was essential that the beauty of the evening should never come at the expense of those we are helping. I never wanted our guests to think that the flowers, the table linens, the tableware, graciously provided by Options , or any decorative elements had been paid for with funds intended for the Lourdes Pilgrimage. That required an enormous amount of work because we had to secure sponsors and donors for every single aspect of the evening, particularly for temporary elements such as the flowers. I was determined not to organize the event without flowers, but I was equally determined not to pay for them with money intended for the sick. So I held firm until we found a patron: Daniel Féau – Belles Demeures de France. In front of every floral arrangement, we placed a handwritten card indicating that the flowers had been generously donated. Naturally, this was a way of thanking our patron, but it also reassured our guests that the funds raised for the pilgrimage had not been used to finance the decorations. I often tell friends who are planning their children’s weddings that I tried to make the evening as beautiful as a wedding… but without spending a penny! We were there to serve “our Lords, the sick,” not to incur unnecessary expenses. The flowers are only one example. We received generous donations for the linens, tableware, entertainment, and many other aspects of the evening. The caviar and wines, generously offered by Rova Caviar and Fondugues-Pradugues, together with the champagne graciously provided by Maison Pommery, were simply exquisite. That is also what I love most about volunteer work: the remarkable people it brings together. Sponsors, donors, members of the organizing committee, and the young volunteers who helped on the day of the Ball all became part of a genuine chain of generosity. Thanks to them, we were able to create a magnificent evening without ever losing sight of our mission. Behind the Scenes of the Invisible “The finest evenings are often those in which no one ever notices everything that was carefully planned beforehand.” L. T. - How long did it take to prepare for this revival? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - About a year and a half. We began in October 2024. The first challenge was finding a venue that was elegant, spacious enough, and centrally located. I absolutely did not want a succession of small rooms, because that would have diminished the atmosphere. Choosing the venue was therefore essential. We then had to assemble both the organizing committee and the honorary committee, secure sponsors and donors, organize the charity auction and raffle, design the table settings, arrange the music, and plan the entertainment. We also recruited around thirty young volunteers to assist on the day of the Ball, particularly with welcoming the four hundred and twenty guests who had travelled from across Europe, the United States, and Latin America, as well as helping manage the raffle. Watercolour artists, an illustrator, a word artist, a silhouette artist, and photographers also helped bring the evening to life. Every one of them donated their talent. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Ruiz-Picasso. Her Serene Highness Princess Dorothée d’Arenberg, the Duke of Crussol, Her Serene Highness Princess Aliénor d’Arenberg and Her Serene Highness Princess Theodora von und zu Liechtenstein. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles-Emmanuel and Princess Constance of Bourbon-Parma, Céline de Noailles de Mouchy de Poix, His Royal Highness Bailiff Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, Count of Caserta. At first, we met once a month, then once a week as the Ball approached. During the final weeks, communication with the teams at the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée and Alejandra Poupel became a daily occurrence. Their guidance in designing and coordinating the evening proved invaluable. I had also entrusted two members of the committee, both under the age of thirty-five, with managing the guest list for younger attendees, while I personally oversaw invitations for those over thirty-five. The composition of the guest list mattered enormously because I wanted every guest to be personally known by at least one member of the organizing committee. We did not sell corporate tables. The Ball was entirely private. That principle contributed greatly to the warm, welcoming atmosphere that defined the evening. L. T. - Which detail demanded the greatest amount of attention, even though it probably went unnoticed by the guests? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - The technical side was probably the most demanding. We had to create and manage several different payment links: one for guests under thirty-five, another for those over thirty-five, one for members of the Order, and another for non-members. Count Jacques de La Guillonnière, Founder and Chairman of the Novelty Group, and his wife. Thirty young volunteers sold 2,000 white carnations bearing raffle numbers throughout the evening. Since the Ball was intended to remain a private event, we also had to ensure that registration links could not simply be forwarded to people we did not know. We had also installed large screens displaying a film about the Lourdes Pilgrimage, along with the names and visual identities of everyone who had supported the event. It was important to thank our patrons and give them the visibility they deserved while ensuring that every technical aspect functioned flawlessly. These are the kinds of details that guests rarely notice when everything works perfectly, yet they require an enormous amount of preparation behind the scenes. L. T. - A few moments before the first guests arrive, when everything is finally in place, what are you feeling? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - I was anxious. I wasn’t emotional yet. As long as every guest had not arrived and been seated, I remained apprehensive. I wanted to be certain there would be no last-minute cancellations, no problems in the kitchen, and no unexpected issue beyond my control. That is undoubtedly my perfectionist side. But we had created a magnificent floral backdrop where guests were photographed as they arrived. Together with Olivier de La Chapelle, President of the French Association of Members of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, I welcomed each guest, and many friends asked me to join them for photographs. Those moments gradually made me forget my anxiety. Passing the Torch “An evening comes to an end. What it passes on, however, may endure for years.” L. T. - Did seeing several generations brought together for this evening hold a particular meaning for you? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - Yes, it was unquestionably one of the evening’s principal objectives. I believe that this intergenerational diversity contributed greatly to its success. Parents were delighted to attend with their children and to see them enjoying themselves. The younger guests were equally happy to share the evening with their parents. We had arranged two separate lounges, but guests constantly moved from one to the other. There was a lounge for the younger guests and another for those who were, shall we say, young a little longer , yet the generations truly mingled throughout the evening. One of the Ball’s principal ambitions was precisely to pass on to younger generations the joy of giving oneself in service to others. Among our approximately four hundred and twenty guests, nearly one hundred and ninety were under the age of thirty-five. I wanted young people who knew little, or nothing at all, about the Order of Malta to discover it and perhaps, later on, feel inspired to become involved themselves. I am convinced that true happiness is found in giving. After the Ball, several first-time participants joined the Lourdes Pilgrimage. To me, that is an immensely meaningful achievement: new Hospitallers chose to serve in Lourdes after discovering the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta through this evening. L. T. - Do you hope this Ball will become a lasting fixture in the life of the Order of Malta Paris and among younger generations? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - Absolutely. A new edition of the Ball will take place in 2027, at the same venue. The exact date has not yet been set, but our intention is for this to become a lasting tradition. This year’s Ball was dedicated to the International Lourdes Pilgrimage. Throughout the evening, I kept thinking of one expression in particular: to serve our Lords, the poor and the sick. Serving the most vulnerable is something that lies very close to my heart. A Deeply Personal Journey “Some missions transform those who carry them just as profoundly as those they are meant to serve.” L. T. - What has this experience taught you about yourself? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - That is a difficult question because I do not spend much time thinking about myself. I believe I discovered that my greatest strength lies in my ability to bring people together: volunteers, members of the organizing committee, donors, sponsors, and everyone who became part of this adventure. That is both what I love most and, perhaps, what I do best. When people share the same passion for serving others and creating something beautiful, extraordinary encounters naturally follow. I realized that I have the ability to gather remarkable people around a common purpose and inspire them to embark on a shared adventure. The gratitude I received after the Ball also nourished me deeply. I believe that is what truly drives me in life. L. T. - You seem to place great importance on caring for others. Is that what guides the way you organize an event of this magnitude? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - Yes. It is truly love for others that guides me. Whoever stands before us, it is love for the other person that makes it possible to create an event like this one. L. T. - If you could keep only one image from that evening, which one would it be? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - I would keep the image of our guests entering the ballroom for dinner. They arrived after the cocktail reception and discovered the beautifully set tables, the crystal glassware, the fine linens, the flowers, the candelabras, and the dance card, whose creation had required an extraordinary amount of work. Each table featured a silk twilly specially created for the occasion and offered to every guest. We deliberately chose this format rather than a traditional scarf so that men could wear it as well, particularly in the breast pocket of a dinner jacket. Valérie LeSport, founder of V.L Carré de Soie, generously created these silk twillies , while Florine Asch designed the original artwork. She also volunteered her talent to create the invitation, the menus, and the dance card. Together, these contributions gave the evening a delicate and remarkably coherent visual identity. Many guests immediately tied the twilly around their wrist or handbag. As they entered the ballroom, they discovered the dance cards, the silk twillies , the flowers, and the pale blue table linens, all harmonizing beautifully with the pastel palette of the décor. Violinists, dressed in magnificent pink tulle gowns, performed from small platforms positioned throughout the room. There was something almost fairy-tale-like. Something quietly magical. I will never forget the wonder on our guests’ faces. L. T. - When the lights go down and the last guests leave, what remains of this adventure for Françoise Péricaud-Duval? Françoise Péricaud-Duval - A feeling that the mission had been accomplished, together with immense happiness and deep serenity. There is something profoundly satisfying about knowing that you have given one hundred percent of yourself, without counting the hours, and seeing that commitment bear fruit. We raised substantial funds for the Lourdes Pilgrimage and brought together generations who danced side by side until three o’clock in the morning. The evening had been beautiful, warm, and joyful. In the end, only one very simple thought remained: “Thank You, my God.” The word that best describes what I felt at the end of the Ball is rewarding. Giving oneself freely as a volunteer offers a reward that has nothing to do with money. It comes entirely from the heart. My grandfather always used to tell me: “Happiness resides within us.” I deeply believe that we can choose to be happy by choosing to love others, to love life, and to love God. Françoise Péricaud-Duval is also the founder of N85 Paris , an agency specializing in French-style event planning and the art of entertaining. She can be reached at n85paris@gmail.com . Photo credits: @jesus_dupaux, @Olga.gasnier and @studio_vanssay.