LONDON, U.K. — With the new season of ITV’s Victoria returning to our screens, Judi Dench’s new film Victoria and Abdul hitting cinemas in September and the second series of The Crown to be released on Netflix in November, monarch-mania is set to sweep the British nation yet again! In real-life royal news, how could we forget the announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third baby! To celebrate, Red Carnation Hotels and Evan Evans has compiled a guide to the best royal experiences across the capital.
1. Treat your Little Prince or Princess to Afternoon Tea
To celebrate the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pregnant with their third child, little guests at The Milestone Hotel in Kensington can dine like royalty in the Park Lounge, overlooking Kensington Palace. The five star hotel’s Little Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea menu, for guests aged 12 and under, encourages active participation! Little ones get to become a member of the Milestone Food & Beverage team and decorate their very own cupcakes, as part of a wider feast of finger sandwiches, freshly-baked scones with Devonshire clotted cream, preserves, pastries, and hot chocolate.
The Little Prince & Princess Afternoon Tea is priced at £24 per child (under 12 years). To make a reservation at The Milestone Hotel, please call 020 7917 1000, email bookms@rchmail.com or visit www.milestonehotel.com.
2. Enjoy a Royal Afternoon Tea
With an enviable location opposite Buckingham Palace, The Rubens at the Palace offers a Royal Afternoon Tea featuring delicious, well researched and much-loved favourites of various British Royals throughout the ages. Served overlooking the Royal Mews, this unique afternoon tea concept features a selection of mouth-watering finger sandwiches such as Coronation Chicken Bridge Roll, Fillet of Beef Castle of Mey with Horseradish Cream and, of course, the classic Cucumber and Cream Cheese. Also included are delicious sweet treats, including freshly baked Orange Scented Scones served with Citrus Curd, in honour of The Orangery at Kensington Palace, and homemade Jam Pennies – one of the Queen’s favourites. The Rubens’ twist on the Chocolate Biscuit Cake that William and Kate served at their wedding reception is boxed up as a takeaway gift for guests. Guests can also choose from a selection of regally-approved beverages including the Queen’s tipple, Gin and Dubonnet; Prince Phillip’s favourite English bitter, Boddingtons; and Prince Charles’ 50:50 Martini.
The Royal Tea at The Rubens is priced at £39 per person. To make a reservation, please call 020 7834 6600 or book a table online at www.rubenshotel.com.
3. Dine like HRH and taste produce sourced from the Queen’s butcher
The English Grill is an elegant new brasserie-style restaurant which officially opened its doors at The Rubens at the Palace this month. Embracing the best of English tradition, design and flavours, the luxurious fine dining restaurant serves an exquisite menu designed around premium seasonal produce. Ingredients are locally sourced from the highest quality English suppliers, including meats from Aubrey Allen, Royal Warrant holder to Her Majesty The Queen, so guests can enjoy traditional English dishes of the high standards served to the Queen herself. In homage to The Rubens’ rich royal history and ties to traditional English society, guests of The English Grill will enjoy warm and impeccable service from tailcoated waiters, alongside polished silver, luxurious fabrics and beautiful chandeliers for a feeling of grandeur and elegance.
The English Grill restaurant is now open to residents and visitors alike for lunch and dinner daily. To make a reservation, please call 020 7834 6600 or book a table online at www.rubenshotel.com.
4. Celebrate the life and legacy of Princess Diana in Kensington
Princess Diana’s home for 15 years, Kensington Palace, has celebrated her life and legacy throughout 2017 with the popular exhibition, Diana: Her Fashion Story. The display will continue running until February 2018 and showcases the evolution of Diana’s style, including the outfits from her first public appearances, to the glamour and elegance of her later life. Visitors are sure to get a true insight into what was involved in dressing ‘one of the most photographed women in the world’ and the making of a fashion icon. Located steps away from the iconic Kensington Palace and Gardens, the five star Milestone Hotel’s prime location opposite the Princess of Wales’ former residence makes it the ideal setting for a London getaway.
Double rooms at The Milestone Hotel start from £357 per room per night. To make a room reservation, please call 020 7917 1000, email bookms@rchmail.com or visit www.milestonehotel.com. The concierge will happily arrange tickets to the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibition for guests.
5. Visit HRH’s official residence on a Windsor tour
Evan Evans, Britain’s finest sightseeing company, offers a Windsor Express tour – a direct service from central London to Historic Windsor, where guests can explore the stunning Windsor Castle, the Official Residence of Her Majesty the Queen and once home to Queen Victoria, taking in the magnificent State Apartments, the 14th Century St. George’s Chapel and the beautiful castle grounds.
The daily tour is priced at £45 per adult and £40 per child, and includes a round trip transfer from central London on a luxury Mercedes-Benz coach with complimentary Wi-Fi, flexible entry ticket to Windsor Castle, a free map of Windsor, and lunch. Audio guides are available. To make a booking, please visit www.evanevanstours.com or call 020 7950 1777.
6. Explore London’s top sights in pure style
While travelling aboard a beautifully restored, vintage London Routemaster red bus with Evan Evans, admire the sights and sounds of the capital on the brand new London In Style sightseeing tour. Before the crowds descend, guests will visit Crown Jewels glistening in all their glory at the Tower of London before visiting the new ‘Armoury in Action’ exhibit and enjoying a private talk from the White Tower Warden. Also on the agenda is a stroll through bustling Borough Market and a guided tour of Westminster Abbey, before an exclusive Afternoon Tea in the Abbey’s impressive Cellarium Café finishes off this day of sightseeing.
Prices start from £103 for children and £113 for adults with entry costs, guide, VOX audio technology and afternoon tea included. Concessions are available. The tour is available Monday to Friday inclusive, until 31 October 2017. To make a booking, please visit www.evanevanstours.com or call.