The Royal Wedding prep is in full swing with Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle working on every detail. Today, let’s take time out from our Royal Wedding Viewing Party preparations to take a look at the beautiful Windsor Castle. As the site of the Royal Breakfast (Luncheon) following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal wedding, the castle staff will ensure the castle is fit for a Queen…and a prince and his bride.
Windsor Castle is one of three official residences of The Queen and has been home to the Sovereign for over 900 years. The Queen uses the Castle both as a private home, where she often resides on the weekend, and as an official Royal residence at which she undertakes certain formal duties. Every year The Queen takes up official residence in Windsor Castle for a month, normally March – April, to correspond with Easter. Additionally, The Queen is also in residence for a week in June, when she attends the Royal Ascot race.
Let’s take a look at the steps involved in preparing this beautiful castle. What better way to feel apart of the big event then with photographs. These beautiful photographs are the work of Ian Jones Photography. Ian Jones is a London based freelance photographer whose images are familiar to millions of people all over the world. It is as a royal photographer that Ian is probably best-known. From 1992 to the present, he has recorded all the great state occasions. It is with these amazing images the world can catch a glimpse of what the preparation for setting the table might look as the staff anticipates the guests of the Royal Wedding Breakfast (Luncheon) Reception. https://ianjonesphoto.photoshelter.com
St. Georges Hall is stunning with a massive mahogany table, seats 170 people and is composed of 68 leaves. A beautiful table starts with a clean table. The table was made in 1846 requires men in socks stand on it and push padded “mops” across the surface to polish it. Love this picture – the massive size of the table requires one to literally “top the table” to mop and polish the table before it can be adorn for the Royal banquet.
Once the royal table polishing is complete, the measuring begins. Note the gentleman in the lower right, measuring and marking each place setting for precision of placement. This is done for each item on the table. Additionally, notice as the candlestick is placed delicately on the table below, the gentlemen’s shoes are covered to ensure no dust or footprints are left on the freshly polished table.
The table takes two days to be properly set, checked and turned out. This includes setting 2,000 pieces of silver-gilt cutlery and 1020 glasses. Each guest has six glasses! There’s a champagne glass for the toast, a red wine and a white wine glass, a water goblet, a champagne glass for dessert and a glass for port after dinner. The glasses are from the Order of the Garter and the Coronation sets of crystal. In addition, the table includes 23 flower arrangements and 100 candles in candelabras.
Precision placement of each glass, each piece of sterling flatware, each plate, and linen napkin. Yes, after the linens have been laundered and pressed to perfection, each of the 160 linen napkins must be folded in a shape called a Dutch Bonnet. The fold requires the Queen’s hand embroidered monogram to be placed in exactly the same location at each place setting. It is also reported to be the job of one man, who is responsible for the folding and placement of each linen napkin to ensure a uniform presentation.
The tablescape begins to come together. The Queen has been know to personally supervise preparations and give her seal of approval. Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pop in to check on all the final arrangements or will they leave the final ok to Queen?
In addition to giving the final royal seal of approval for the arrangements and preparation, the Queen is also said to enjoy showing off her dishes. Silver-gilt plates are normally used for the first course and the meat course. One of the Queens many porcelain service are used for the pudding course and fruit course.
The preparation is nearly complete. Final step before guest arrive, candles are lite, and doors are opened, chairs are place exactly 27 inches from the table. Guest ready for a Royal Banquet. Simply beautiful.
Such a lovely room. Her Majesty the Queen is seated at the center of the table. Her husband, Prince Philip is seated directly across from her. Then according to protocol, the most notable members of the Royal family and/or heads of state are positioned near the Queen according to seniority.
So now we wait patiently for the big day. What will be the flower of choice, on the menu, and the wedding cake flavor? At this point it is a guarded secret. In the meantime, we will prep for our own magnificent Royal Wedding Viewing Party. We know one thing is certain, it will be beautiful.
All the best,
