For the Diamond Jubilee, the Queen will attend a royal lunch hosted by the Livery, with approximately 700 guests. As the grand occasion draws nearer you may be wondering how to celebrate at home (if, like us, your invitation to the Livery lunch seems to have been lost in the post).
Fortunately everyone can enjoy a regal repast by throwing a Diamond Jubilee afternoon tea party. Read on for our tips about hosting a party so elegant, even the Queen will be disappointed she wasn’t there.
Invitations
At a normal royal garden party it’s not unusual for 20,000 sandwiches, 20,000 cake slices and 27,000 cups of tea to be served. If you feel able to cater on this scale, good luck! We recommend inviting up to eight people to your party, to create a cosy and informal atmosphere.
Remember to send your invitations a week or two in advance, especially if you decide to write them by hand - after all, receiving an invitation through the post gives a real sense of occasion. We think pretty pastels are just the thing, so check out our
floral folk stationery set.
Decorations
When the day arrives you need to decide where to hold your party. If you choose to stay indoors (or the weather chooses for you) you can make an immediate impression on your guests with some charming household decorations, like these lovely
Union Jack cushion covers.
With a little luck the Great British summer will be in full swing, and you can take your tea outside - so hang up some
paper chains or
Union Jack bunting to create a festive mood.
Table settings
The heart of your tea party will be the table, so this is the perfect time to get out your best crockery. Our
Regency range will make your table look divine, or if that isn’t your style there’s a great selection of summery
botanical plates, cups and dishes to choose from.
Try to think of everything your guests will need, so that you will not need to leave the table when the party is in full swing. Each person will require a
cup and saucer, a teaspoon, a
tea plate, cutlery and a
napkin.
Tea time
Without a doubt the most important element of the party is the tea, so choose loose tea leaves that you can brew in front of your guests. Consider Earl Grey, green tea, black tea and oolong, and don’t forget to lay the table with a
sugar bowl,
milk jug and lemon slices, so each person can flavour their tea as they wish.
Making the tea at the table will add a touch of ceremony to the occasion, and who does ceremony better than royalty? You can really impress your guests by making the tea in this beautiful
rose teapot. If you use a
tea strainer, have a dish nearby for the used tea leaves.
Royal snacks
Be sure to offer a selection of both sweet and savoury finger foods - put them on the table so that everybody can help themselves. Some teatime favourites are sandwiches filled with cucumber, egg, chicken or salmon, scones with cream and jam, and a variety of cakes. A
cake slice and
cake forks will really come in handy.
Serve up your snacks in true regal style, with one of our cake stands. To complete your Regency table, there’s our
three tier cake stand or, if you feel like really splashing out, make your centrepiece this stunning
birdcage cloche stand.
Finishing touches
If you’re lucky enough to be outside, you can while away the afternoon with a game of
garden croquet. And for a right royal end to the event, why not play the National Anthem?
DotComGiftShop wishes you a very happy tea party!
