British Royalty

The Stafford London's Royal Wedding Viewing Party

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events

Don't have an invitation to the Royal Wedding this April, but still want to celebrate along with Prince William and Kate? The five-star Stafford London by Kempinski hotel is staging a Royal Wedding viewing party on April 29 which might be the next best thing. Located just steps from Buckingham Palace, and rumored to be frequented by the Royal Family themselves, the luxe hotel will be celebrating the momentous occasion with a party in its outdoor courtyard complete with a viewing screen broadcasting the momentous event, accompanied by classic British cocktails and cuisine. Tickets for the Royal Wedding viewing party are £85 per person and include all food and beverage. Reservations are required – to purchase a ticket call the hotel directly at +44 20 7493 0111 or email rsvp.london@.kempinski.com.

Gallery: The Stafford London by Kempinski

Tags: British Royalty, Buckingham Palace, Kate Middleton, London, luxury hotels, party, Prince William, Prince William and Kate, royal family, Royal Wedding, royalty, Stafford Hotel, Stafford London by Kempinski, UK, William and Kate

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Prince William and Kate's Royal Wedding Invitation Revealed

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Wealth

William and Kate's Royal Wedding Invitation Revealed

1,900 people just received their invitations (above) to the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29. The heavy card bearing the engraved gold insignia of the Queen of England was delivered to various VIPs from kings to charity leaders, close family and university friends, old schoolmates and prime ministers around the world, People reports. The edges of the card, which is about 10 in. by 6 in., are beveled and then gilded. The simple wording reads that the Lord Chamberlain has been "commanded by the Queen" to invite the holder to the ceremony. Guests are asked to wear military uniform, a morning coat or a "lounge" (business) suit. 600 of the 1,900 invitees have also been invited by the Queen to a reception immediately following the ceremony, and 300 of those are also invited to a dinner hosted by William's father, Prince Charles, later that evening at Buckingham Palace.

Tags: British royalty, Buckingham Palace, Kate Middleton, London, Prince Charles, Prince William, Queen of England, royal family, Royal Wedding, royalty, UK, wedding

The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Classicist, Wealth

A recent decision by two venerable British brands to drop the Royal Warrants from their packaging has occasioned some hand-wringing in the UK over whether the much-coveted distinction has lost its lustre. The Classicist calls it a tempest in a Royal Doulton teacup; read on to find out why. Only three royals are entitled to grant warrants – the Queen of England, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales – to firms who supply their royal requisites for at least five years, though most warrant holders have ties to Britain's royal family dating back several decades or more. Of course, Prince William will one day be granting his own.

Holders of the Royal Warrant include many of our favorite luxury brands – Asprey, Aston Martin, Bentley, Barbour, Burberry, Fortnum & Mason, Gieves & Hawkes, Holland & Holland, Hunter Boots, Jaguar, John Lobb, Johnnie Walker, Land Rover, Laphroaig, Lock & Co., Swaine Adeney Brigg, Smythson, Tanqueray and Turnbull & Asser – along with a host of lesser names, such as After Eight mints and Jacob's Cream Crackers. It is the latter two that have now decided to do without their warrants – though no insult is intended to the royal family, as it was when former Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed burned his last year. That coupled with the results of a new survey showing that only 13% of respondents thought that warrants make any difference have called their usefulness into question, the London Guardian reports.

However, "It's hard to say that interest in royal warrants is conclusively on the wane," Vicky Bullen, chief executive of Coley Porter Bell, tells the paper, "because there is no existing data with which to make a comparison. However, consumers' apparent indifference to the royal warrants has surprised us. We can only surmise there could be a number of factors at play." Said factors, Bullen says, include "that we live in a less deferential society in which the royal family enjoys less prestige and political support." That of course is not exactly new, though the upcoming Royal Wedding may give them a boost. [cont'd]

Gallery: Holders of the Royal Warrant

Tags: Asprey, Aston Martin, Barbour, Bentley, British royalty, Burberry, Fortnum and Mason, Harrods, Holland Holland, Hunter Boots, Jaguar, John Lobb, Johnnie Walker, Land Rover, luxury brands, Mohamed al Fayed, Prince of Wales, Prince William, Queen of England, royal family, Royal Warrant, Royal Wedding, royalty, Smythson, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Tanqueray, UK

Continue reading “The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre?”

EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist, Wealth

Last summer we reported that Mohamed al Fayed had sold famed London department store Harrods to Qatar's royal family for $2.2 billion. Now the ultra-rich businessman, equally well known as the father of the late Princess Diana's lover Dodi Fayed, is selling off his incredible car collection, featuring stunning custom classic Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and more. There are ten cars in all from al Fayed's collection starring in Bonhams' Paris sale of Motor Cars at the Grand Palais on Feb. 5 - chief among them being the 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 originally owned by John Lennon, expected to fetch up to $220,000, which we can now exclusively reveal comes from al Fayed's collection and was in fact owned by Dodi Fayed.

Next up are a remarkable pair of classic Rolls-Royce motorcars which al Fayed has refinished in custom Harrods Green livery, one with a royal pedigree. The 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine (above) was the property of H.R.H. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent until al Fayed acquired it in 1996, and is expected to fetch up to $200,000. The Duke of Kent's Rolls, which was originally painted black, still has its blue bullet lamp on the roof signifying Royal ownership. There's also a matching Harrods Green 1969 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine, estimated at up to $240,000. Read on for the full list of al Fayed's cars being offered for sale, including several other Ferraris:

Gallery: Mohamed al Fayed's Car Collection at Bonhams

Ex-Duke of Kent 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V

Tags: auctions, Bonhams, British royalty, classic cars, department store, Dodi Fayed, Ferrari, Harrods, London, mohamed+al+fayed, mohamedalfayed, Mohammed al Fayed, Paris, Princess Diana, Rolls-Royce, royalty, UK

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection”

Prince William and Kate Middleton Swear to Live Without Servants

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Soon-to-be-married couple Prince William and Kate Middleton say they do not plan to employ any servants in their royal household. Although William's father Prince Charles employs an army of 150 retainers, William and his new wife will not have so much as a single Jeeves to fetch their tea, the London Telegraph reports. The future King and Queen of England have been doing their own shopping, cooking and even cleaning at the rented cottage they occupy on weekends, the paper notes, and plan to continue in that vein once vows have been exchanged.

The only staff they can't dispense with are the bodyguards detailed to provide security for the heir to the throne. The couple apparently believe that sharing their home with servants would ruin the intimacy of their relationship. "It's very much their instinct to manage on their own," a senior royal source tells the paper. "They want to do their duty and make sure they are a real asset to the country but they are private individuals who want to get on with their lives." Of course all that will have to change when the couple move in to Buckingham Palace.

Tags: aristocrats, British royalty, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince William, royal family, royalty, UK, wealth

Frosdick of London Offers World's Most Expensive Bespoke Wardrobe

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style

Frosdick of London, makers of the beautiful bespoke safari boots we wrote about back in April, is offering a unique opportunity to acquire "the most expensive wardrobe in the history of tailoring" - complete with a custom luxury car to match - for $1 million. The one-of-a-kind "Million-Dollar Dandy" package includes 14 bespoke Savile Row suits, made from the purchaser's choice of the world's finest fabrics; 28 custom-tailored dress shirts; 28 custom-made silk ties; and 14 pairs of bespoke shoes and boots created from exotic leathers. The suits, shirts and ties will all be handmade by Henry Poole of Savile Row, the famed tailor favored by British royalty. The shoes and boots will be crafted by another royal favorite, London's Schnieder of Clifford Street. Complementing the more formal attire will be a selection of elegant smoking jackets and dressing gowns.

The latter will be made by Prince Charles' tailor Turnbull & Asser, enhanced by discreet accents in diamonds and precious metals, along with the Million-Dollar Dandy crest. All measurements and subsequent fittings prior to actual completion will be carried out in London. Frosdick of London will then commission the Queen of England's nephew, furniture designer Viscount David Linley, to craft a bespoke wardrobe in precious woods to house it all. Finally, the Million-Dollar Dandy will receive a bespoke motorcar hand built by Bristol, the last wholly British-owned luxury car builder in existence. The truly unique vehicles are not sold through any dealers or distributors, maintaining the note of ultimate exclusivity conveyed by the custom clothing. Email david@frosdickoflondon.com for more info.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: bespoke, Bristol, British royalty, David Linley, Frosdick of London, London, mens style, most expensive, Prince Charles, Queen of England, Savile Row, suit, tailoring, UK

Union Jack Collection from Viscount David Linley

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Decor, Men's Style

The latest design from bespoke cabinetmaker (and nephew of the Queen of England) Viscount David Linley is a line of elegant accessories featuring an inlaid Union Jack motif. Consisting of a humidor, jewelry box, tea caddy, cufflink box, and large and small picture frames, the exquisite and extremely British pieces pieces are finished in walnut with the flag artfully rendered in a marquetry of burr oak, burr walnut and ripple sycamore. Like Linley himself, the Union Jack boasts a royal lineage; the flag originated in 1606 after King James I of England was crowned, uniting the kingdoms of England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The humidor, for about $2,000, is lined with Spanish cedar wood and has a built-in humidifier and hydrometer to preserve cigars. The jewelry box, for about $1,800, is lockable and lined in red faux suede with a compartmentalized, removable tray. The tea caddy, for about $1,000, is available in a limited edition of 25 pieces, and comes complete with a supply of Fortnum & Mason Royal Blend loose leaf tea. The cufflink box, for about $650, is lined in beige faux suede. The picture frames come in a large and small size for about $440 and $400.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: bespoke, British royalty, David Linley, England, Fortnum Mason, humidor, jewelry, Queen of England, tea, UK, Union Jack, Viscount Linley, walnut, wood

Historic Steel Superyacht Used by British Royals for Sale at $10.5 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The world's oldest steel superyacht, still steaming along in style nearly 110 years after she was launched, is being offered for sale for about $10.5 million. The 182.-ft. Madiz (above), built by the Ailsa Shipyard in Troon, Scotland and originally christened the Triton, served in the British Royal Navy as a Royal Patrol Yacht during World War II, and King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth II used her on several occasions. The last surviving ship to have been personally designed by G. L. Watson, the pioneering yacht designer who created some of the most successful contenders for the America's Cup, the stately craft was refitted with Maybach engines and then completely restored in 2006. Decks of Burmese teak, Cuban mahogany in the master staterooms and solid oak paneling in the reception areas speak to the luxury of a bygone era. There are stylish accommodations for 14 along with 9 crew to serve them champagne and keep the woodwork shining.

[via JamesList]

Tags: British Royal Navy, British royalty, BritishRoyalNavy, BritishRoyalty, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Scotland, superyacht, yacht

Cufflinks Made from Prince Charles' Aston Martin

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style

A while back when Prince Charles converted his beloved 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Volante, a 21st birthday present from his mummy the Queen of England, to run on wine, there were some spare engine parts left over. Now London-based TMB Artmetal, makers of "provenance" items fashioned from parts of automotive, aeronautic, locomotive and maritime icons, has come out with limited edition cufflinks made from the original aluminum engine pistons removed during the conversion. There are two editions of 100 pairs, each priced at £995 or about $1,600, finished with 18ct gold. One edition is an exact, miniature sculpture of the DB6 Volante, whilst the other replicates the car's iconic wheel spinners – the quick-release fixing that secures the Aston's wheels. All profits go to Charles' youth charity, The Prince's Trust.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, biofuel, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, cufflinks, London, Prince Charles, PrinceCharles, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, UK

David Linley Tri-Time Desk Clock

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Viscount David Linley, the bespoke cabinetmaker who's a nephew of the Queen of England, has designed his first timepiece in the form of an extremely handsome desk clock with a streamlined Art Deco feel. The Linley Tri-Time Desk Clock (above), priced at about $1,500, is finished in beautifully grained walnut with stainless steel detailing and three Swiss clocks allowing the owner to keep track of separate time zones. The clock is from Linley's ever-expanding range of accessories including boxes for jewelry, watches and cufflinks, humidors, desk sets and more. The aristocratic designer credits his talented father, the eminent photographer Lord Snowdon, as being particularly influential on his career, having himself trained as an architect and designed amongst other things the Aviary at London Zoo. His mother of course is Princess Margaret.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, clock, David Linley, DavidLinley, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, wood

Creed Windsor, a Kingly Cologne

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Creed of Paris, supplier of bespoke fragrances to royalty and aristocracy since 1760, has released a limited edition bottling of a cologne originally created for the Duke of Windsor in 1936 during his brief reign as King Edward VIII before he abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.

Only 320 bottles of the kingly cologne, presented in a shatterproof 1.7 oz. leather-wrapped flask numbered and signed by sixth-generation master perfumer Olivier Creed, will be available in the U.S. for $400 apiece. It's made exclusively from ingredients grown in what was once the British Empire.

The subtle, elegant top notes of Creed Windsor are British gin, Jamaican lime and a touch of Scottish highland pine; the middle note the variety of roses now known as the "Duke of Windsor"; and the bottom notes Bahamian orange, Canadian cedar and a dab of Australian eucalyptus.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, cologne, Creed, Duke of Windsor, DukeOfWindsor, fragrance, Paris, perfume, royalty

The Classicist: Rambling in the 2010 Range Rover Sport

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, The Classicist

The Range Rover is the automotive embodiment of a distinctly upper class British sporting aesthetic, as quintessentially English and aristocratic as the country houses dotting the verdant landscape. The luxe SUV was introduced in 1970, expanding upon the utilitarian Land Rover first designed by the Wilks Brothers in 1948. The preferred country conveyance of Prince Charles and his kin, the marque continues to dominate the upper end of the SUV spectrum in the UK and abroad despite having passed out of British hands.

For 2010 the Range Rover and its rakish younger sibling, the Range Rover Sport, were treated to a makeover encompassing several significant engineering and design upgrades. We had a chance to ramble 'round the scenic byways of Vermont recently in the latter. At 375 hp, the normally aspirated Sport model has nearly the same power as the previous year's supercharged version, capable of 0 - 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (just 0.1 seconds off the pace of the outgoing supercharged unit).

The Sport's smooth, refined, responsive performance and good looks mark it as a thoroughbred in all respects. For 2010 the exterior has a somewhat cleaner, more sculpted appearance. LED headlamps combine with a new two-bar grille, front bumpers and fenders to create a more sporting, aerodynamic, low-slung stance. At the rear, new light clusters and a revised bumper design mirror the smoother front-end. The interior has been comprehensively redesigned as well, using higher quality materials and finishes.

Gallery: 2010 Range Rover Sport

Leather is used extensively on major surfaces, in a wider choice of colors. To create a more sporting feel, rich dark shades "sandwich" narrow sections in lighter tones, completed by a generous selection of stylish wood finishes. There are luxurious new seats front and rear, which feature a deeper, more sculpted shape. A new adaptive sport mode provides more aggressive shift points and "learns" an individual driver's style to provide more appropriate responses to throttle inputs. The supercharged model now comes with F1-style paddle shifters on the steering wheel as well.

The fascia-mounted touch-screen system houses a new hard-drive navigation system while a new portable audio interface also allows connectivity to an array of personal audio storage devices, USB sticks and iPods. A new Surround Camera System features five digital cameras which relay a near 360-degree view to the touch-screen display. You can even zoom in. And one of our favorite new features is the automatic High Beam Assist technology, which turns them on and off as needed, detecting preceding and approaching traffic. Perfect for those country roads at night.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, Land Rover, LandRover, Prince Charles, PrinceCharles, Range Rover, RangeRover, sporting, SUV, UK

Ski in Royal Style in Courchevel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping, Sports

When Prince William took his girlfriend Kate Middleton on a skiing vacation last winter, there was little doubt about where they would go; Courchevel in the French Alps has a fair claim to the title of world's most exclusive ski destination, and it's become increasingly popular with Russian oligarchs looking to rub elbows with royalty as well. The luxe five-star Hotel de Charme Les Airelles (above), which recently unveiled a $50 million renovation, is the place to stay for those who don't have private villas. The elite resort has only 37 guestrooms and 14 suites, as well as a 7,000-sq.-ft. spa, an exclusive Valentino boutique, and three eateries including the sumptuous Pierre Gagnaire Restaurant. For the ultimate in luxury, the 5,900-sq.-ft. Apartment Suite on the stop floor features four bedrooms all with private baths, a private spa, screening room and a 1,600-sq.-ft. terrace with an outdoor Jacuzzi and a view of the coveted Courchevel 1850 (referring to the elevation) slopes.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, Courchevel, French alps, FrenchAlps, Hotel de Charme Les Airelles, HotelDeCharmeLesAirelles, Prince William, PrinceWilliam, skiing, Valentino

The Classicist: True Brit - Barbour's Best for Fall

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

Classic British outerwear company Barbour has come out with a brilliant collection for fall building on the brand's heritage while updating traditional designs and adding subtle new takes on sporting classics. Inspired by the best of British varsity wear and Barbour's own rich lineage - the firm, founded in 1894, holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales - there are new additions to each of Barbour's collections: Heritage, Contemporary, Classic, and Sporting.

Fall ushers in a bold, visually appealing and tactile re-interpretation of Barbour's authentic style. This season sees an expansion in new styles in the company's outerwear, knitwear and shirts ranges, as well as a brand new, full trouser collection with formal, casual and jeans options for both men and women. One standout is the Union Jack International motorcycle jacket (above left) with a super cool British flag lining. Key items feature Union Jack patches and Barbour badges as well, such as the Durelli International jacket with an integral waistcoat. Other trends in the autumn/winter '09 collection include: (continued after the jump)

Gallery: Barbour Fall '09

Tags: Barbour, British Royalty, British style, BritishRoyalty, BritishStyle, hunting, motorcycle, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, sporting, tweed, UK

Continue reading “The Classicist: True Brit - Barbour's Best for Fall”

Asprey Crocodile Skin Poker Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Men's Style

200-year-old London luxury goods firm Asprey has been making some of the world's most exquisite games for decades, of the sort that wouldn't look out of place in a palace. One of their latest offerings is a beautiful handmade gentleman's poker set in black polished genuine crocodile skin with ceramic poker chips and royal purple Asprey playing cards (above). Priced at about $8,000 it certainly brings new meaning to "poker night". Asprey, founded in 1781, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, one of several granted by the British Royal Family over the years. As we reported last year, Asprey decided to return to its roots and focus on its core business of luxury goods representing a high-water mark of taste, refinement and quality after having branched out into clothing and footwear.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Asprey, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, crocodile, gambling, games, London, poker, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Royal Warrant, royalty, RoyalWarrant, UK

British Royalty

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