Afternoon Tea in the Palace Lounge (Restaurant, Hotel)

Top 10 things to know about afternoon tea at the Rubens at the Palace Hotel:

1) Your invitation to celebrate the Queen's birthday got lost in the post? Well, a visit to Rubens at the Palace might just be the next best thing.

2) The location can't be any closer: you’re just at the backyard of Her Majesty's residence. The Palace Lounge overlooks the Royal Mews.

3) With a classical decor, it could quite conceivably be inside Buckingham Palace. The room is decorated with vintage chairs, retro carpets and even prints of famous kings such as James I, the first monarch to be named King of Great Britain.

4) Fittingly, you only get silver service here; the staff are dressed in formal attire and only the Queen's English is spoken; although, in the most inclusive and friendly manner possible.

5) To help you understand the tastes of the Royal household, their royal afternoon tea celebrates some of the favourite delectable pastries from our monarchy, including the Queen's beloved jam pennies.

6) Presentation is key for Her Majesty. The triple-layered tea set is a sight to behold: the top layer an explosion of colour from the delicate sweet pastries; the middle layer includes the classic orange scented scone and jam pennies; on the bottom, mouth-watering finger sandwiches.

7) It is a devilishly tricky task to eat like a prince or princess when there is so much temptation in front of you. The chocolate biscuit cake with chocolate mousse is indulgently decadent and, unsurprisingly, a favourite of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The coronation tart is adorably decorated as a mini-crown complete with pistachio and raspberries.

8) No royal afternoon tea party is complete without finely cut sandwiches. The Rubens version: fresh, moist and refined. Most importantly, it includes the Queen's favourites: cucumber and cream cheese, and Arbroath smokie with chive mayonnaise.

9) To end the birthday celebrations, toast Her Majesty with a glass of Lanson rosé or just share a cup of tea from their eclectic collection. Naturally, the one to order is the Jubilee blend, produced by mixing the Yunnan and Assam tea varieties, and which has an assuring, heartwarming quality.

10) Thanks to Rubens, you can now savour afternoon tea like royalty without having to wear a bow tie and tuxedo....read more