Balls, formal dinners and the like are considered to be white tie and a literal one isn't required these days. Black ties are perfectly acceptable as long as you've a proper tailcoat. This is common knowledge, you've no excuse to be unaware of it if you've traveled the universe. [no, Charles, it's not really that common...

while talking he bats Taiwan's hands away but doesn't lean back quite in time to avoid the glasses, and they look just as ridiculous on him if not more so.]