Our story

Sixty-seven years ago, Mrs. Alicia du Pont MacGregor envisioned a Queen of Hearts Ball benefiting the American Heart Association—complete with a Queen and her Royal Court of Princesses presented in elegant pageantry. The Royal Court would be selected from nominees put forth by clubs and civic organizations committed to supporting charitable, cultural, and civic initiatives in the St. Petersburg area.

In 1959, her vision became reality when the first Queen of Hearts Ball was held at the Coliseum, with Mrs. R.W. Roberts crowned as the inaugural Queen. Today, the tradition continues under the guidance of Queen’s Court, Inc., which hosts the annual Queen of Hearts Ball in St. Petersburg to honor women’s volunteerism in Pinellas County and raise funds for two local charities. This is the organization’s sole fundraiser, and because it is run entirely by volunteers, 100% of the net proceeds go directly to the selected charities. To date, the Queen’s Court has raised more than $2.7 Million in support of a wide range of charitable, cultural and educational organizations in Pinellas County.