LONDON, ENGLAND (JUNE 6, 2013) -- This summer, the Athenaeum Hotel will be celebrating a series of high-profile Royal events—including HM The Queen's Coronation Anniversary and the birth of a Royal baby—with exclusive experiences and packages. The hotel is located in the heart of Mayfair, within sight of Buckingham Palace.
Between Saturday, June 22nd and August 31st, the Athenaeum will be hosting an exhibition of more than 40 rarely-seen photos of the Royal family’s children, from Victorian times to the present day. The ‘Royal Child’ exhibition, curated in partnership with Royal Life Magazine, includes a striking, never-before-published image of HM The Queen making sandcastles in Sussex at the age of four. And on weekends until the end of August, guests will be able to view the photographs over a sumptuous afternoon tea in the Hyde Park suite and listen to the insights from Royal photographer Ian Pelham Turner and Helena Chard. They have a store of fascinating anecdotes, including the shaving of Bertie's head by Queen Victoria; HM The Queen’s famous left hook, displayed in disputes with her sister Margaret (known as The Mauler); and the reason George VI is thought to have gained his stammer.
Ian Pelham-Turner is an award-winning Royal Photographer and Royal Commentator. For the past 46 years, he has worked with four generations of the Royal family. In December 1982, he was commissioned to take the first official photographs of baby Prince William with Prince Charles and Princess Diana at Kensington Palace.
His colleague, Royalty Photographer Helena Chard, is also a casting and events director with more than 8,000 international artists on her books. Among the memorable events she has recently covered are the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Helena also works on major viral events for worldwide global media. She contributed to last year’s hugely successful T-Mobile Royal promotion viewed by more than 28 million viewers on YouTube.
The Athenaeum’s Royal Summer Afternoon Tea will be available to guests of the invitation. It will include honey roast ham with Royal Park honey, arugula and red onion marmalade sandwiches, along with Royal drop orange blossom scones with rich Devonshire clotted cream and homemade English strawberry jam. Also on the menu is a selection of traditional British cakes and pastries, including Victoria sponge cake with Royal icing, Battenberg cake and English strawberry tartlets. The Athenaeum was named 2012 winner of the Top London Afternoon Tea award from the Tea Guild.
There are two sittings per day at weekends, subject to availability at 1:30pm – 3:00pm and 4:00pm – 5:30pm and is priced at £60 (approximately $93) per person. Children must be at least eight years old and are charged full price. Champagne and wine are available on request. The Athenaeum strongly recommends arriving 15 minutes ahead of the designated sitting.
Reservations should be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling toll free 1-800-335-3300 or emailing: royalsummer@athenaeumhotel.com
Special Packages For Summer Pleasure
In addition to the exhibition and tea, the hotel is offering an array of Royal Summer packages for guests. One especially notable offer is the ‘Best of British Summer Break,’ which includes an overnight stay for a family of four and tickets to Buckingham Palace to view the much anticipated Coronation exhibition.
Special US dollar rates have been designed to coincide with ‘The Royal Child’ Photography Exhibition and Royal Tea, starting from $823 for a deluxe room and includes two places at the Royal Child afternoon tea and two “fast track” tickets for Buckingham Palace – The State Rooms and Garden Highlight Tour. Rates include full English breakfast daily, all drinks and snacks from the mini-bar, tax of 20%, free meals for children under 12, one-way transfer from any London airport for a three-night stay or round-trip for a five-night stay.
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The Athenaeum, London
Nestled among the Royal Parks and located in fashionable Mayfair -- just steps from Buckingham Palace through Green Park and the best shopping in London – The Athenaeum is a family-owned and family-friendly five-star hotel known for its exterior vertical garden, warm welcome and The Apartments at The Athenaeum. The Athenaeum has 164 bedrooms including 12 suites and 18 newly refurbished apartments along with The Restaurant, Garden Room (home to the property’s afternoon tea service awarded “Top London Afternoon Tea 2012” by The Tea Guild), Whisky Bar (which boasts one of London’s largest collection of whiskies), Spa and Gym. Other hotel highlights include complimentary Wi-Fi, babysitting, minibar snacks and meals for children. Leading attractions such as Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason and The Royal Academy are located only a stone’s throw away. Further information can be found at www.athenaeumhotel.com or info@athenaeumhotel.com, 116 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 7BJ. The toll free reservation number is 1-800-335-3300. Travel professionals may book via GDS (chain code YX).
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