The Regal Rules for Girls (35 page)
PLANNING THE PERFECT “CAR PARK” PICNIC
Whether you’re packing a picnic for Royal Ascot or the Henley Royal Regatta, concentrate on elegant finger food that can be nibbled with minimal mess—the less cutlery required the better.
Create an al fresco picnic menu that incorporates Britain’s classic summer delicacies—things like asparagus, smoked salmon, and fresh strawberries. Always ensure that white wine, rosé, champagne, and beer are served chilled.
It sounds crazy, but tables and chairs are a must for such picnics. Try to find ones that will easily collapse in the back of your car or taxi.
Special touches make all the difference, and British guests
will notice
if you’re not using starched table linens, proper wineglasses, and real champagne flutes.
Ideally, food is packed in an old-fashioned willow picnic basket with leather trim, from Fortnum and Mason. (Even better, get them to cater the whole thing for you.)
www.fortnumandmason.com
The English summer is not complete without pitchers and pitchers of Pimm’s. The British serve it at garden parties, at picnics, and during languid rounds of afternoon croquet; Pimm’s lubricates all cricket matches and is the number one drink of choice at Wimbledon. (It is also safe to say that without Pimm’s, Henley would be no more than a stilted formal gathering on a riverbank.)
Pimm’s is a gin-based liquor that contains a top-secret mix of herbs that give it an amber-colored tint. Tasting subtly of citrus fruit and spices, Pimm’s can be served both on ice or in cocktails. However, it is traditionally mixed with English “lemonade” (the kind that is clear and carbonated and vaguely similar to Sprite), along with a variety of chopped fruit, mint, and cucumber. The resulting concoction is not unlike a very large and very boozy cup of fruit cocktail. (Sometimes it’s actually served with a long-handled spoon.)
Pimm’s proffers a somewhat restrained 25 percent alcohol content, and its widespread popularity among the English summer events is undoubtedly based on the fact that it is light enough to be consumed all afternoon—while still being strong enough to provide the necessary party-time kick. If you hate alcoholic drinks that taste like alcoholic drinks, then you’ll love Pimm’s. Just try not to drink more than ten pints in a single afternoon.
Classic Pimm’s Recipe
- Take a jug or tall glass and fill it with ice.
- Mix 1 part Pimm’s No. 1 with 3 parts sparkling lemonade (I prefer Schweppes’s).
- Add sliced cucumber, orange, lemon, and strawberries (I like to freeze these in advance so they act as extra ice cubes).
- Garnish with a few sprigs of mint.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London,
www.wimbledon.org
What is it:
The world’s oldest major tennis championship and the only one still played on grass.
When:
Two weeks between late June and early July.
What to expect:
Strawberries and cream, pristine green lawns, and sexy tennis whites.
What to drink:
Pimm’s. What else?
Who goes:
The Duke or Duchess of Kent usually presents the prizes to the winners of the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Singles and Doubles, and all players must bow or curtsey to the occupants of the Royal Box. Kate Middleton and her sister, Pippa, made a fashionable splash during their first public courtside appearance in 2011, and palace aides are reportedly discussing the idea of Kate taking over the trophy presenting duties in her new role as Duchess of Cambridge—which would surely add an exciting touch of glamour to the tournament. (Kate is an accomplished
tennis player and used to play regularly at the Chelsea Harbor Club.
4
)
Top tip:
Plan ahead and apply for tickets via the public online lottery system in
December
; otherwise be prepared to stand in line overnight for the same day’s matches.
Best flirting spot:
The Centre Court.
Cowes Week
Isle of Wight,
www.cowesweek.co.uk
Cowes Week is the longest-running yacht regatta in existence. The nautical event stages 40 daily races for more than 1,000 boats and up to 8,500 competitors participate each day. During Cowes Week, most sailing clubs open their doors to other UK yacht club members. You can also mix with the well-heeled West London crowd at the Mahiki or Raffles pop-up parties found along the neighboring marinas.
When:
Eight days in early August.
Who goes:
Both the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal have competed in Cowes as individuals.
What to wear:
On the water? Gill or Musto. On the shore? Crew Clothing, T&G, Henry Lloyd. Shoes? Sebago or Dubarry.
Best flirting spot:
During the fireworks grand finale on the final Friday of the regatta.
Faux pas:
Seasickness, women in overly nautical-themed outfits.
Also try:
Antigua Race Week, Falmouth Week.
(See also “Sailing,”
page 161
.)
Polo is the sexiest sport on the planet: gorgeous, strapping (often royal) players on horseback in hot pursuit of the ball, thundering hooves, bits of grass, clouds of dust, the loud smack of the mallet…the entire event is the epitome of sportsmanship, valor, and equestrian skill. After attending my very first polo match and applauding the game between sips of champagne, I understood completely why polo had been the royal sport of choice for so many centuries: “Let other people play at other things. The King of Games still remains the Game of Kings.”
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TOP 5 POLO EVENTS:
- The Prince of Wales Trophy at the Royal County of Berkshire,
www.rcbpoloclub.com - The Queen’s Cup at Guards (I love this one because Her Majesty is always in attendance),
www.guardspoloclub.com - The Warwickshire Cup at Cirencester Park
www.cirencesterpolo.co.uk - The Gold Cup at Cowdray Park,
www.cowdraypolo.co.uk - Cartier International at Guards (the pinnacle of the polo calendar but increasingly less elite that the others)
www.guardspoloclub.com
The game:
Two teams of four, all on horseback, gallop around a lawn three times the size of a soccer field, attempting to hit a small white ball with long-handled mallets.
When:
The polo season runs from April to September.
Where to go:
You can typically choose between grandstand seating and eating a picnic on the lawn or more exclusive members’ enclosures that offer a lavish sit-down lunch and continuous champagne. Lunch comes first, then the polo.
What to drink:
Veuve Clicquot.
What to wear:
Your entry badge, designer shades, a smart sundress, flats or wedges.
Faux pas:
Stiletto heels, insanely short hemlines (as the saying goes, people are there to see the ponies’ legs, not yours).
Best flirting spots:
The Jack Wills Eton vs. Harrow match at Guards Polo Club (think of the cute alumni!), the Chinawhite party tent at Cartier International (Prince Harry and his chums frequently make an appearance).
POLO POINTERS:
Call them polo
ponies
, NOT horses. A good polo pony can stop and turn on a dime (or a sixpence!), and most players would say that their success is primarily due to their ponies’ skill. (FYI: Ponies’ legs are often bandaged for support and protection—not because they are injured.)
A
chukka
is a period of play (similar to a tennis set), lasting seven minutes. At the end of each chukka, the ponies are swapped so they don’t get too tired. A full game has eight chukkas; club matches have four to six.
Divots
are the holes made on the field by all those pounding hooves. Spectators are encouraged to stomp them back down at halftime (another good reason to wear flats or wedges instead of heels).
