Yesterday was a month exactly until the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton and Buckingham Palace officials offered us a glimpse of some of the 19 exquisite rooms where the lucky guests will have access (the Palace has 775 rooms, so 19 is actually just a small fraction of them).
The wedding has been billed as low-key - but common sense dictates that there's nothing low-key about a wedding when its reception is held at the home of the world's most famous woman.
We have also been given a glimpse at some of the Buckingham Palace workers whose job it is to ensure the big day goes without a hitch.
On the walls will be Old Masters brought out from the vaults of the Royal Collection in honour of the couple. Wills and Kate may enjoy looking at them as they studied history of art at St Andrews University where they met.
The focus of the reception will be the picture gallery, where the wedding cake – a traditional multi-tiered fruit cake – will be on display surrounded with works by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens.
Guests will also be able to wander through areas normally reserved for heads of state and other dignitaries in the palace’s west wing, including the White and Blue Drawing Rooms, the Music Room and State Dining Room, all of which date back to the 1820s.
Just 60 staff, from chefs and footmen to housekeepers, will be on duty catering for up to 900 guests.
But Edward Griffiths, deputy master of the household, whose department is responsible for all hospitality, says his staff are well drilled. Guests will be offered champagne and canapes ‘from the moment they arrive’, he explained.
The man with probably the most important job is Buckingham Palace's head chef Mark Flanagan, who needs to ensure that the royal couple, their families and guests have enough food.
Flanagan and his team of 21 usually prepare 550 meals a DAY when Elizabeth II is in residence at the palace.
The cooks will be using copper pots to create the wedding breakfast, some of which were first used 190 years ago during the reign of King George IV (the uncle of Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria)
Mr Flanagan would not give too many details of what luxurious food is to be served but promised it will use the "best of British" ingredients and source much of it from the Queen’s gardens and estates.
Delicacies served up at previous events include quails’ eggs with celery salt and a modern twist on old British favourites such as mini roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.
President Obama was served Cornish pasties when he came to tea.
Definitely NOT low-key: Royal Wedding guests to sample best of British food in 19 splendid rooms
By Rebecca English
29th March 2011
Daily Mail
Royal wedding guests will have access to 19 exquisite rooms at Buckingham Palace on the April 29th ceremony
It has been billed as a low-key royal wedding – but when the couple in question are hosting their reception at Buckingham Palace, the reality is anything but.
Yesterday, just a month before Prince William marries Kate Middleton, palace officials offered a glimpse of the venue and the team working round the clock to ensure their big day goes without a hitch.
Those lucky enough to have been invited, will have access to 19 state rooms, decorated in opulent style, following the Westminster Abbey ceremony on April 29.
Feast your eyes: Exquisitely decorated with red silk damask, the walls of the State Dining Room make a fitting background for the portraits of sovereigns from throughout history. Countless dignitaries, including presidents and prime ministers, have dined here
Grandeur: Prince William and Kate Middleton's guests will be drinking and dining in opulence. The Blue Drawing Room was the venue for the first State Ball held at the Palace in 1838 before Queen Victoria's coronation. It has 30 fake onyx columns and a table made for Napoleon
Fit for a queen: A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II's great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII, hangs in the White Drawing Room, the grandest of the state rooms overlooking the gardens. Queen Alexandra was known affectionately by her family as Alix. A secret door leading to private rooms allows for a discreet Royal entrance
On the walls will be Old Masters brought out from the vaults of the Royal Collection in honour of the couple, who will no doubt appreciate their finer points as they met studying history of art at St Andrews University.
The focus of the reception will be the picture gallery, where the wedding cake – a traditional multi-tiered fruit cake – will be on display surrounded with works by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens.
Guests will also be able to wander through areas normally reserved for heads of state and other dignitaries in the palace’s west wing, including the White and Blue Drawing Rooms, the Music Room and State Dining Room, all of which date back to the 1820s.
Remarkably, just 60 staff, from chefs and footmen to housekeepers, will be on duty catering for up to 900 guests.
But Edward Griffiths, deputy master of the household, whose department is responsible for all hospitality, says his staff are well drilled. Guests will be offered champagne and canapes ‘from the moment they arrive’, he explained.
Their glasses will be topped up throughout the day – although the Prince and his new wife plan to stick to soft drinks (bar a glass of champagne for the toasts) until later, it is understood.
The Queen’s head chef Mark Flanagan admitted his team would be under pressure but was confident his 21-strong staff – who produce 550 meals a day when the Queen is in residence – were up to the task.
The cooks will be using copper pots to create the wedding breakfast, some of which were first used 190 years ago during the reign of George IV.
Mr Flanagan would not reveal details about what they planned to serve but promised to use ‘the best of British’ and source much of it from the Queen’s gardens and estates.
Each canape is made to be consumed in just ‘two bites’.
Delicacies served up at previous events include quails’ eggs with celery salt and a modern twist on old favourites such as mini roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.
President Obama was served Cornish pasties when he came to tea.
A taste of things to come? Could guests be munching on quails' eggs served with celery salt (seen top)? Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace demi chef de partie Shaun Mason is hard at work preparing thousands of intricately designed sweets
Delicious treats: A chef of the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, London, holds a tray of canapes, like those that may be served at the Royal Wedding
Preparation: Guests will be treated to the best of British fare and palace chefs are already hard at work. Sous chef Mark Stewart (top), prepares a tray of mini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish cream canapes, while Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, Head of Kitchens at Buckingham Palace, arranges a tray of bubble and squeak confit with shoulder of lamb canapes
Perfection: Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, right, watches as food is prepared in the Palace kitchens amid preparations for the reception
Collection: (Top) Wine glasses used during royal receptions are lined up at Buckingham Palace, and bottom, a copper cooking pot that is still in use today and bears the markings of King George IV sits on a rack in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace. George IV, who reigned as the Prince Regent after his father, George III, was declared insane in 1810, came to the Throne proper in 1820. He was the uncle of Queen Victoria, the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II.
Opulent: The lavishly decorated White Drawing Room will be one of the rooms used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Fine art: (Top) Jennifer Scott, Assistant Curator of Paintings, looks up at a Canaletto from 1723 in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, which will be one of the rooms used during the wedding reception and bottom, a Rubens self portrait from 1623 in the Picture Gallery
Decadent: Jennifer Scott sits underneath the Peter Paul Rubens painting Winter (bottom centre) in the Picture Gallery, which will be used during the wedding reception. The gallery is 150ft long and was re-roofed by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II's grandmother, in 1914
Song and dance: Palace Steward Nigel McEvoy walks through the Music Room, which has seen some of history's finest pianists play their music on the ornate grand piano and which will be used during the wedding reception. This room was used for the baptisms of Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Andrew, Duke of York and most recently, Prince William, all in turn wearing the honiton lace robe that had been made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter. Princess Diana, when she first took up residence in the Palace in the early days of her marriage in the early 1980s, practiced her dancing steps in this room.
Splendour: (Top) The White Drawing Room includes a stunning chandelier and furniture lined with gold upholster. The room will be one of many others used in the wedding reception, while bottom, Edward Griffiths, Deputy Master of the Household, stands in the room, recognisable by its intricate carpet
Magnificent: The finest crystal chandeliers hang from the ornate ceiling of the Blue Drawing Room, which will see dozens of guests mingle during the reception. A large State Portrait of the Queen's grandfather, George V, is on display in the room.
Wedding: (Top) A double-decker bus drives past the front of Westminster Abbey in central London which will be the focus of the world's attention, and bottom, The Duke of York column rises high in the background as workers give a fresh lick of paint to flag poles along The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace as part of the preparations
dailymail.co.uk
The wedding has been billed as low-key - but common sense dictates that there's nothing low-key about a wedding when its reception is held at the home of the world's most famous woman.
We have also been given a glimpse at some of the Buckingham Palace workers whose job it is to ensure the big day goes without a hitch.
On the walls will be Old Masters brought out from the vaults of the Royal Collection in honour of the couple. Wills and Kate may enjoy looking at them as they studied history of art at St Andrews University where they met.
The focus of the reception will be the picture gallery, where the wedding cake – a traditional multi-tiered fruit cake – will be on display surrounded with works by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens.
Guests will also be able to wander through areas normally reserved for heads of state and other dignitaries in the palace’s west wing, including the White and Blue Drawing Rooms, the Music Room and State Dining Room, all of which date back to the 1820s.
Just 60 staff, from chefs and footmen to housekeepers, will be on duty catering for up to 900 guests.
But Edward Griffiths, deputy master of the household, whose department is responsible for all hospitality, says his staff are well drilled. Guests will be offered champagne and canapes ‘from the moment they arrive’, he explained.
The man with probably the most important job is Buckingham Palace's head chef Mark Flanagan, who needs to ensure that the royal couple, their families and guests have enough food.
Flanagan and his team of 21 usually prepare 550 meals a DAY when Elizabeth II is in residence at the palace.
The cooks will be using copper pots to create the wedding breakfast, some of which were first used 190 years ago during the reign of King George IV (the uncle of Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria)
Mr Flanagan would not give too many details of what luxurious food is to be served but promised it will use the "best of British" ingredients and source much of it from the Queen’s gardens and estates.
Delicacies served up at previous events include quails’ eggs with celery salt and a modern twist on old British favourites such as mini roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.
President Obama was served Cornish pasties when he came to tea.
Definitely NOT low-key: Royal Wedding guests to sample best of British food in 19 splendid rooms
By Rebecca English
29th March 2011
Daily Mail
Royal wedding guests will have access to 19 exquisite rooms at Buckingham Palace on the April 29th ceremony
It has been billed as a low-key royal wedding – but when the couple in question are hosting their reception at Buckingham Palace, the reality is anything but.
Yesterday, just a month before Prince William marries Kate Middleton, palace officials offered a glimpse of the venue and the team working round the clock to ensure their big day goes without a hitch.
Those lucky enough to have been invited, will have access to 19 state rooms, decorated in opulent style, following the Westminster Abbey ceremony on April 29.
Feast your eyes: Exquisitely decorated with red silk damask, the walls of the State Dining Room make a fitting background for the portraits of sovereigns from throughout history. Countless dignitaries, including presidents and prime ministers, have dined here
Grandeur: Prince William and Kate Middleton's guests will be drinking and dining in opulence. The Blue Drawing Room was the venue for the first State Ball held at the Palace in 1838 before Queen Victoria's coronation. It has 30 fake onyx columns and a table made for Napoleon
Fit for a queen: A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II's great-grandmother, Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII, hangs in the White Drawing Room, the grandest of the state rooms overlooking the gardens. Queen Alexandra was known affectionately by her family as Alix. A secret door leading to private rooms allows for a discreet Royal entrance
On the walls will be Old Masters brought out from the vaults of the Royal Collection in honour of the couple, who will no doubt appreciate their finer points as they met studying history of art at St Andrews University.
The focus of the reception will be the picture gallery, where the wedding cake – a traditional multi-tiered fruit cake – will be on display surrounded with works by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens.
Guests will also be able to wander through areas normally reserved for heads of state and other dignitaries in the palace’s west wing, including the White and Blue Drawing Rooms, the Music Room and State Dining Room, all of which date back to the 1820s.
Remarkably, just 60 staff, from chefs and footmen to housekeepers, will be on duty catering for up to 900 guests.
But Edward Griffiths, deputy master of the household, whose department is responsible for all hospitality, says his staff are well drilled. Guests will be offered champagne and canapes ‘from the moment they arrive’, he explained.
Their glasses will be topped up throughout the day – although the Prince and his new wife plan to stick to soft drinks (bar a glass of champagne for the toasts) until later, it is understood.
The Queen’s head chef Mark Flanagan admitted his team would be under pressure but was confident his 21-strong staff – who produce 550 meals a day when the Queen is in residence – were up to the task.
The cooks will be using copper pots to create the wedding breakfast, some of which were first used 190 years ago during the reign of George IV.
Mr Flanagan would not reveal details about what they planned to serve but promised to use ‘the best of British’ and source much of it from the Queen’s gardens and estates.
Each canape is made to be consumed in just ‘two bites’.
Delicacies served up at previous events include quails’ eggs with celery salt and a modern twist on old favourites such as mini roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.
President Obama was served Cornish pasties when he came to tea.
A taste of things to come? Could guests be munching on quails' eggs served with celery salt (seen top)? Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace demi chef de partie Shaun Mason is hard at work preparing thousands of intricately designed sweets
Delicious treats: A chef of the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace, London, holds a tray of canapes, like those that may be served at the Royal Wedding
Preparation: Guests will be treated to the best of British fare and palace chefs are already hard at work. Sous chef Mark Stewart (top), prepares a tray of mini Yorkshire puddings with roast beef and horseradish cream canapes, while Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, Head of Kitchens at Buckingham Palace, arranges a tray of bubble and squeak confit with shoulder of lamb canapes
Perfection: Royal Chef Mark Flanagan, right, watches as food is prepared in the Palace kitchens amid preparations for the reception
Collection: (Top) Wine glasses used during royal receptions are lined up at Buckingham Palace, and bottom, a copper cooking pot that is still in use today and bears the markings of King George IV sits on a rack in the kitchens at Buckingham Palace. George IV, who reigned as the Prince Regent after his father, George III, was declared insane in 1810, came to the Throne proper in 1820. He was the uncle of Queen Victoria, the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II.
Opulent: The lavishly decorated White Drawing Room will be one of the rooms used during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Fine art: (Top) Jennifer Scott, Assistant Curator of Paintings, looks up at a Canaletto from 1723 in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, which will be one of the rooms used during the wedding reception and bottom, a Rubens self portrait from 1623 in the Picture Gallery
Decadent: Jennifer Scott sits underneath the Peter Paul Rubens painting Winter (bottom centre) in the Picture Gallery, which will be used during the wedding reception. The gallery is 150ft long and was re-roofed by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II's grandmother, in 1914
Song and dance: Palace Steward Nigel McEvoy walks through the Music Room, which has seen some of history's finest pianists play their music on the ornate grand piano and which will be used during the wedding reception. This room was used for the baptisms of Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Andrew, Duke of York and most recently, Prince William, all in turn wearing the honiton lace robe that had been made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter. Princess Diana, when she first took up residence in the Palace in the early days of her marriage in the early 1980s, practiced her dancing steps in this room.
Splendour: (Top) The White Drawing Room includes a stunning chandelier and furniture lined with gold upholster. The room will be one of many others used in the wedding reception, while bottom, Edward Griffiths, Deputy Master of the Household, stands in the room, recognisable by its intricate carpet
Magnificent: The finest crystal chandeliers hang from the ornate ceiling of the Blue Drawing Room, which will see dozens of guests mingle during the reception. A large State Portrait of the Queen's grandfather, George V, is on display in the room.
Wedding: (Top) A double-decker bus drives past the front of Westminster Abbey in central London which will be the focus of the world's attention, and bottom, The Duke of York column rises high in the background as workers give a fresh lick of paint to flag poles along The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace as part of the preparations
dailymail.co.uk
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