London's Autumn Highlights

ritual of Afternoon Tea, served in the grand foyer at Claridge's or the Palm Court at the Ritz is an experience worth savoring after a visit to The Fine Art Society, (celebrating its 125th anniversary), in nearby Bond Street, or The Royal Academy in Piccadilly.

I was first taken to Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in 1941 to meet my aged grandfather. He was a venerable old gentleman knighted many years previously by King George V upon his retirement from the Indian Army Medical Service, (during which time he served briefly in Afghanistan in the reign of Queen Victoria after the 1878 Anglo-Afghan war). Our meeting was during the darkest days of World War II following the blitz. A small String Ensemble, the musicians in white tie and tails, played a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan favourites in the Palm Court as we drank our tea.

Years later I enjoyed meeting my mother at Claridge's for Afternoon Tea. Tea in those days was smoked salmon & cucumber sandwiches in brown bread garlanded with cress, buttered scones with strawberry jam and cream, a Danish pastry and a pot of 'Darjeeling', taken to the strains of music supplied by a similar string ensemble playing a selection from My Fair Lady, now back in Town some 50 years later. Savoy Hotel chef, Anton Edelmann, has written a delightful book in celebration of this stylish Grand Hotel 'English Afternoon Tea'. Filled with recipes for scones, cakes and biscuits, (cookies), and lavishly illustrated his 'taking tea at the Savoy, heads my October book list and I am indebted to Elegant-Lifestyle.com for reviewing it.

Travelsleuth's Autumn Highlights: October.
The Queen and Court have returned to Buckingham Palace for the Autumn season. The Palace Staterooms and Garden are now closed to the public until next summer, when a number of special events will take place to mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee. Updated information of the Golden Jubilee celebrations together with the Royal Family's diary of engagements can be found on the official website of Buckingham Palace at: www.royalinsight.gov.uk . The diary of engagements for The Prince of Wales can be found on his official website at: www.princeofwales.gov.uk

Antiques Fairs.

LAPADA Fine Arts & Antiques Fair.
10-12 October at The Commonwealth Institute, Kensington High Street, London W8. The annual antiques fair for the professionals, bringing together the Kensington set as well as British and overseas visitors. An important annual event.

The copyright of the article London's Autumn Highlights in Royal Britain is owned by Stuart Buchanan MacWatt. Permission to republish London's Autumn Highlights in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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