Cambridge University students celebrated the end of their exams with their first May Ball in three years, since before the first national coronavirus lockdown.
The first Trinity May Ball was held in 1866, with the tradition quickly spreading to other colleges, but events were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Guests, who paid at least £330 for a sought-after double ticket to Monday’s event, were promised “Cambridge’s best Ball, an unrivalled showcase of revelry — unlimited food and drink, a stunning fireworks display, and a myriad of entertainments from chart-topping stars to world-class comedians to the finest classical and jazz musicians.”
In years gone by, some of Britain’s brightest students have engaged in hedonistic behaviour, stripping off and jumping in the river.
A series of balls is held to mark the end of term, with various colleges hosting them.
