The Goring’s new ‘Her Life in Style’ Afternoon Tea coincides with the recently opened ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ exhibition at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace (until 18th October 2026) and, served in their elegant, light-filled Veranda overlooking the hotel’s oasis-like garden, is the ultimate way to conclude a day stepping into the shoes of royalty – if only for a brief moment…
Having first opened their doors in 1910, and located just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, the still family-owned Goring hosted the Queen on many occasions, making it an extremely special place to celebrate our late Queen during what would have been her centenary year. For more than 70 years Queen Elizabeth II gave us a tremendous sense of pride as our Head of State, whilst promoting British fashion in a way that we probably took for granted. From an elegant young queen to a beloved great-grandmother, she famously said, “If I wore beige no one would know who I am.”
The Goring’s newest dining experience is a chance to immerse yourself in true gentility and raise your cup of tea to the extraordinary monarch who recognised the importance of creating an instantly recognisable image across the world, claiming: “I have to be seen to be believed”. Forever iconic, and with her signature brand of discreet diplomacy at the forefront of the lengthy design process in which she was involved from beginning to end, not least when visiting other countries when the Queen would often incorporate another nation’s colours or symbols.
Each colourful decade of the Queen’s wardrobe is celebrated in the new exhibition, with The Goring’s patisserie team having taken inspiration from the Queen’s dresses to create a top tier of exquisitely hand-crafted afternoon treats paying homage to some of her most memorable fashion moments. As for Queen Elizabeth’s love of afternoon tea which she enjoyed every day at 5pm, when it comes to scones, she was known to prefer fruit over plain and remember to place the jam before the cream if you wish to follow Her Majesty in the ongoing national debate.
The ‘Her Life in Style’ Afternoon Tea includes the favourite Dubonnet cocktail of the Queen (an alcohol free version is also available); an elegant opening offering guests a nostalgic flavour of the Queen’s heyday and her own personal taste, partnered with a temptingly plump raspberry choux amuse course. It certainly makes for a thoroughly relaxing dining experience when there is nothing more to decide other than which tea to choose. If The Goring’s extensive selection of fine blends ‘leaves’ you slightly bewildered, put your trust in The Goring Afternoon Blend; an Assam and second flush Darjeeling from India designed to be a ‘natural foil for scones and clotted cream’.
The popular Royal Blend would also be fitting for the occasion; first blended for the gastronome King Edward VII in his coronation year of 1902, and featuring tea from both Assam, India and Sri Lanka, its distinctively malty, honey notes are balanced with flowery Pekoe for a highly ‘traditional cup of tea’. There is something apt about enjoying this tea and reflecting on the fact that The Goring was the last great London hotel to have been built during the Edwardian era, opening just months before King Edward VII died.
A hotel where every guest is treated like royalty and your wish really is their command, besides catering for most dietary requirements, besides suggesting several varieties of Bollinger, their house champagne and the one every British monarch has favoured with a Royal Warrant since the 19th century, The Goring also serve my own favourite 0% sparkling rose wine, Wild Idol, which, with its crisp strawberry notes, is a delight to sip in unison with the most luxurious sandwiches you’re ever likely to find. From a Coronation Devon white chicken and truffled Clarence Court egg and cress, to John Ross smoked salmon (another holder of the Royal Warrant) with dill cream cheese, they might very well cause you to turn your nose up at anything less in future.
The tantalisingly golden, freshly baked plain and raisin scones accompanied with clotted cream and jam were next in line to be sampled, and which I forbade myself to finish due to the alluring patisserie selection awaiting my attention. A ‘White Peach and Strawberry Parfait with Tonka Bean and Silver Glaze’ emulating the late Queen’s bridesmaid dress designed in 1934 by Edward Molyeaux for the Duke of Kent’s wedding; a ‘Saffron and Cardamon Mousse with Mango and Spiced Sponge’ honouring the late Queen’s use of symbolic colours for diplomatic dressing, specifically the Norman Hartnell dress worn for the 1961 state banquet in Karachi; and a finale of ‘Manjari Chocolate Ganache Tart with Hazelnut Praline, Orange and Bergamot’ uniting Queen Elizabeth’s love of chocolate and Earl Grey tea and representing her evening attire in 1970 including dresses designed by Ian Thomas,
From attentive service to delicious sandwiches and cakes replenished as desired, more than anything, taking afternoon tea at The Goring is an unmissable slice of British history due to the hotel’s own relationship with the royal family and in particular Queen Elizabeth II who granted the hotel a prestigious Royal Warrant in 2013 – far rarer than a Michelin star which The Goring’s restaurant, The Dining Room, also boasts. A world away, not only from nearby Victoria, but the rest of humanity, escaping here for an afternoon of indulgence is to be immersed in old-world charm you simply won’t find anywhere else.
‘Her Life in Style’ Afternoon Tea at The Goring starts at £85 per person. Served in The Veranda from Monday to Sunday 12p to 6.15pm. Afternoon Tea is also served in The Dining Room on Saturdays. For more information and reservations please visit the website.
