Celebrate the King’s Coronation with Red Carnation Hotels: themed afternoon teas & dining experiences

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection has curated a series of experiences to celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation at its luxurious London properties, many of which enjoy rich royal histories of their own.

The Rubens at the Palace, located opposite the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, and once part of the estate itself, is offering a full calendar of celebratory Coronation events:

· A King’s Coronation Themed Afternoon Tea (£70 per person) will launch on 1 May and be available until 1 August. The menu takes its inspiration from His Majesty’s favourite flavours, such as Wild Mushroom Quiche, and Orchard Plum Confit. Served in the Palace Lounge, guests can enjoy the comings and goings of the Royal Mews, opposite, as they dine. On 6 May a special celebratory afternoon tea service (£120 per person) will feature six courses inspired by Kings Charles III, including Spiced Welsh Lamb Sausage Roll, and Darjeeling-Soaked Fruit Cake. The Coronation Day Afternoon Tea will be accompanied by a live performance from the hotel’s resident pianist, and each guest will receive a commemorative Coronation tea tin gift set to take home.

· A seven-course Celebratory King’s Coronation Dinner (£125 per person) will be served in the hotel’s Curry Room restaurant on 4 May. The menu gives an international twist to the Coronation celebrations, integrating royal history with classic Indian dishes. The evening is created in association with Cobra Beer and complemented by live music in the New York Bar from 19:00.

· On 5 May, the hotel will host an elegant Celebratory King’s Coronation Menu (£295 per person) in the English Grill restaurant. The seven-course menu features dishes such as Wye Valley Asparagus Soup with Wild Garlic Pesto, and Apricot and Whisky Crémeux with Hazelnut Ginger Sable and Darjeeling Milk Ice Cream. These are paired with Lanson Champagne and plenty of theatre as bottles are sabred by a member of the Confrerie du Sabrage d’Or. The Rubens Trio Live Band will entertain guests throughout the evening.

· The Rubens will also host a King’s Coronation Street Party Afternoon Tea (£99 per person) on 7 May, with quintessential British favourites such as Scotch Egg with Bramley Apple Sauce and Cucumber finger sandwiches with Apple and Dill Crème Fraîche. Accompanied by music from The Rubens Trio Live Band, this celebratory event set with The English Grill provides the perfect ambience for this new chapter of royal history.

Full information and bookings: www.rubenshotel.com.

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The Milestone Hotel is situated opposite Kensington Palace and Hyde Park, making it the natural venue of choice for its royal neighbours, who choose to dine at the five-star property for its elegant cuisine and discreet service. Their Coronation offering includes:

· A Royal Coronation Afternoon Tea (£80 per person) from 1-14 May, with a menu inspired by the Coronation of King Charles featuring classic British finger sandwiches such as Smoked Salmon with Lemon and Caper Crème Fraîche, freshly baked scones, and sweet treats such as Honey, Milk and Black Tea Macarons and The King’s Fruit Cake.

Those looking to mark the historic event with friends and family can privately hire the hotel’s charming Conservatory (£250 room hire, plus £80 per person for Afternoon Tea) for up to 20 guests on 6 May. Guests will be greeted with welcome drinks before their Royal Afternoon Tea, and the Coronation ceremony will be shown live on screen.

· A six-course Coronation Tasting Menu (£125 per person), available between 5 and 12 May, is a gastronomic immersion into the borough’s royal connections. The celebratory banquet of carefully crafted plates features the finest British ingredients and dishes such as Smoked Coronation Chicken Croquette with Spiced Apricot Ketchup, and Wild Mushroom Risotto with Roasted Chicken Skin and Lemon Thyme Crumb.

The occasion can be elevated with a Coronation Wine Pairing Menu (£195 per person). For an additional flourish, the meal can be turned into a private dining experience in London’s most intimate dining venue, The Oratory (£500 hire, suitable for parties of 2-8 guests).

Full information and bookings: www.milestonehotel.com.

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The Montague on the Gardens near Covent Garden has earned a stellar reputation for having the best seasonal pop-up events in the capital. It is no surprise then, that the luxurious Bloomsbury-based hotel has created unmissable and convivial Coronation celebrations, taking place on 6 and 7 May:

· A Coronation Afternoon Tea (£80 per person) will be served to welcome His Majesty King Charles III in the most traditional fashion. Sweet treats, including a Royal Chocolate Cake and cream-laden scones, mark this momentous day. The menu includes a specially curated Coronation Cocktail of Tanqueray gin, homemade elderflower reduction and lemon oil, while live music completes the jubilance of the occasion.

· The hotel will also be hosting a Coronation Al Fresco Street Party (£90 per person), combining live music, a surf and turf barbeque, and Coronation-themed finger food with a convivial environment in which to celebrate this unmissable event. Each party will enjoy two hours of unlimited Royal Parks-themed cocktails, bottled beer, or soft drinks. Banqueting table-style seating will create a street party ambience and allows guests to mingle with those around them as they welcome the new king.

Full information and bookings: www.montaguehotel.com.

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The Egerton House Hotel, an elegant townhouse hotel in Knightsbridge, will be serving special Coronation themed F&B offerings in its warm and cosy Drawing Room and Bar.

· A Coronation Afternoon Tea (£95 per person) will be offered between 1 and 10 May. The menu includes freshly cut sandwiches – Coronation chicken features, of course – along with some of the institution’s favourite cakes. Diners will enjoy colourful Battenberg, thought to have originated at the 1884 wedding of Prince Philip’s grandparents; and a Lanson Trifle, a beautiful reinterpretation of the dessert that has graced aristocratic banquets for centuries. Junior guests can enjoy a special Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea (£35 per child under the age of 12).

Alongside included teas and coffees, there is the option to add a champagne toast (£19 a glass), one of The Egerton’s world-famous martinis (£23), or to raise a glass to the previous monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, with her favourite Gin and Dubonnet (£15), served just as she liked it, with a single cube of ice and a slice of lemon.

Full information and bookings: www.egertonhousehotel.com.