The Pearly Kings and Queens society have descended on London for their annual charity Harvest Festival event today in their sparkling buttoned outfits.
Members of the charitable society donned black collard jackets adorned with hundreds of pearlescent buttons, badges and glitter as they paraded the streets.
It is a tradition which dates back to 1875 and has been kept alive by 30 London families who were out in force for their annual Harvest Festival.
The organisation has raised millions of pounds for the capital’s charities since it was founded in Victorian times.
The Pearly Kings and Queens society was founded in the 19th century by Henry Croft, who was born on the May 24, 1861 in a Victorian workhouse.
Pearly Kings and Queens sing traditional songs during the annual harvest festival at the Guildhall in London today
John Scott Pearly King of Mile End waits as Pearly Kings and Queens gather before their annual harvest festival
Donna Maria, Queen of the Maypole, leads dancing during the Pearly Kings and Queens annual harvest festival at the Guildhall in London on September 29
Pearly Kings and Queens attend the annual harvest festival service at St Mary-Le-Bow church
As a young man who worked to raise money for other orphans, Henry began wearing a suit adorned with flashy buttons to attract attention and increase donations.
His clever thinking proved so successful that soon other charities were asking for his help and so began the society of Pearly Kings and Queens.
Today the tradition is still being passed down through the families, and London’s streets are frequently lit up with rays of selfless charity.
The Pearly Kings and Queens gathered at the Guildhall Square today as they paraded to St Mary-le-Bow church to celebrate the harvest festival which marks the beginning of autumn.
There was even a pearly pug dressed up in a harness covered in pearly buttons seen at the event.
Pearly Kings and Queens dance around the maypole during the annual harvest festival
There was even a pearly pug dressed up in a harness covered in pearly buttons seen at the event
The Pearly Queen of Old Kent Road speaks with Revd Dan Warnke ahead of the festival
Huge lines of fundraisers were seen dressed from head to two in bejeweled outfits as they marched through the city for a charitable cause.
The tradition began more than a century ago as a way to raise money and add a dash of cheer and cheekiness to ordinary London life.
Pearly Kings and Queens have become icons of working class culture with ‘royal families’ now in every borough in the capital.
There are even pearly princes and princesses who are often the children or grandchildren of the kings and queens and wear mini black jackets covered in pearly buttons.