Community Corner
Brides and Brits Come to Royal Tea at St. Regis
St. Regis Atlanta served royal afternoon tea on Friday to the British General Consul and other celebrating the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
British accents could be heard coming from one end of the hotel Long Gallery on Friday afternoon at tea time. More than 30 guests came for tea in the upstairs gallery of the hotel, including British Consul General Annabelle Malins.
The city was awhirl with wedding fever and wide-brimmed hats in honor of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in England, but the air at St. Regis was calm and refined.
A model bride strolled along the balcony to display elegant locally-designed bridal gowns by Anne Barge. Guests sipped hot tea and nibbled pastries. Malins called the atmosphere “relaxed, light, bright and luxurious.”
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“You want to celebrate with other people,” Malins said during tea. Although during the live footage of the royal wedding Friday morning, the Consul General called herself “a pajama watcher.” Friday evening she hosted a black tie dinner and dancing event at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia hotel with VIP guests.
At St. Regis, Malins dined with five other women of various leadership roles in the Atlanta community.
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She said tea time was as it should be: “A chance to chat not just about the wedding, which we did quite a lot of, but to get to know each other.”
Cynthia Nash, honorary consul general for the Republic of Liberia, took tea with the British Consul General. She called Malins “a new best friend.”
The group discussed international travel and cultural adaptation, their children, previous marriages, legal drinking ages, and of course the wedding. Claire McLeveighn of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, said Americans have a historic affinity with Britain, as well as a fascination with royalty that makes us eager to celebrate the royal wedding. Kristen Hirst of The North of England Agency said Americans watched the wedding for the fashion.
“Nobody does pomp and circumstance like the Brits,” Hirst said. The rest of the tea party agreed.
Christina Zubowicz of Magnolia Events & Planning said she the new Duchess’s wedding fashion will set the trends for years.
The royal tea served guests, toasting with champagne, until 5 p.m. Tea hostess Erikka Montgomery said St. Regis expects nearly 40 guests Saturday afternoon.
