On 6th February 2012, 60 years after her accession to the throne, Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee
As you will suspect readers, Tea with Mary Kate will need very little excuse to dust off her vintage china to celebrate this splendid occasion. What more perfect way to join the jubilation than to create, yes, you have guessed it, a Royal Afternoon Tea.
Royal Afternoon Tea to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee
Queen ElizabethII will hold 4 garden parties, and have tea for a staggering 34000!
Now while I am far from proposing organising an event on quite that scale, there are some splendid events planned in June to coincide with 60 years after Queens Elizabeths coronation.
The Big Jubilee Lunch
On Sunday 3rd June, 2012, there is the Big Jubilee Lunch where everyone will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the celebrations. How terribly British! I adore the idea of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch – and a traditional afternoon tea is just perfect for it. Organised by the Big Lunch http://www.thebiglunch.com, do make sure that you have your bunting at the ready.
Diamond Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea
Royal Jubilee Afternoon Tea – Inspired by a Vintage coronation Tea cup
While it is a Royal tea, Queen Elizabeth has always been a terribly practical, no nonsense sort of Queen so the focus is a celebration of traditional British fare without too much embellishment. I have themed the royal jubilee tea around this vintage coronation tea cup. White table linen, with red, white and blue flowers to decorate. I am planning to fill vintage tea cups with home grown flowers from Sarah Ravens beautiful celebrate Britain flower seed Mix, Draft your own afternoon tea menu, and decorate it with splendid blue red and white ribbons, and sparkly “diamonds”.
Beautiful flowers for Diamond Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea – Celebrate Britain mix form Sarah Raven
Diamond Jubilee Royal Afternoon Tea Menu
A selection of gorgeous sandwiches
Cucumber on white bread
Egg mayonnaise with a hint of garlic salt and lashings of cress on brown bread
Cheddar cheese with homemade pickle on wholemeal bread
Something Sweet
Scones with jam and cornish clotted cream
Cup of tea cake spread thickly with butter
Tea cups filled with warmed apple crumble – with traditional custard
Yorkshire Gold leaf tea
For more inspiration, there is Tea with Mary Kates Top Tips on how to Create the very Best Royal Wedding Afternoon Tea, another amazing Royal event.
Other Events to Celebrate with the Queen
Cecil Beatons portrait of Queen Elizabeth Coronation
Cecil Beatons Portraits at the V & A
An exhibition of Cecil Beatons wonderful portraits of Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Victoria & Albert Museum on 8 February – 22 April 2012.
Diamond Jubilee River Pageant
if you fancy an outdoor event, the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, on 3 June 2012, will be one of the main events of a four-day bank holiday weekend marking her 60-year reign. The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla, with the Queen the head the fleet, and including vessels from the UK, Commonwealth, and around the world. The flotilla is expected to be seven-and-a-half miles long and will feature a mix of private and commercially owned historic and modern boats – ranging from rowing boats and sailing ships to steamers, wooden launches and larger motorised craft.http://www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org/
Time is fleeting and moments are so very precious. All too soon they are gone. Tea with Mary Kates intends to celebrate this is a once in a life time event with a very British afternoon tea – how will you be celebrating?
