On Saturday 30 March 2019, a bright spring day, 21 students gathered at Windsor Castle for the Historical Association Great Debate final. The 21 finalists had already successfully won their local heats from across the UK and now they stood in the historic vaulted Vicar’s Hall, St George’s House, a stone's throw from St George’s chapel.

They would spend the next few hours presenting their arguments to answer the question: What was the greatest failure of the Age of Revolutions?

The competition has been in partnership with the Age of Revolution Waterloo 200 Legacy who were represented by one of the judges, Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter KCVO, OBE, DL, who is the Chairman and Trustee of Waterloo 200 Ltd. Also faced with the difficult task of judging an outstanding field of talks was Rebecca Sullivan, CEO of the Historical Association, and Dr David Musgrove, Content Director of BBC History.

Arguments presented included the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, the Abolition of Slavery, the acquiescence of allowing invasive species to be spread across continents and women’s fight for equality.