The background

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences is a five-star suite and residence-only hotel next to St James’s Park and close to Westminster and Victoria. It is known for its culinary chops – Michelin-starred Quilon is one of the hotel’s restaurants and the hotel’s newest addition Kona is lauded for its relaxed elegance and exquisite cooking. The restaurant is particularly known for its afternoon tea, which The Telegraph named one of the best in London. Now, to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Kona has launched a new majestic afternoon tea that promises to make anyone feel like a royal for the day.

The space

Nestled in the truly spectacular red brick and turquoise St James’s Courtyard and set back from Buckingham Gate, Kona is a haven of peaceful tranquillity. Calm and muted greys and neutrals are paired with bolder peacock patterns and shades of blue, green and gold to create an interior that is at once elegant, exotic and intimate. Kona is an extremely comfortable restaurant, designed to make spending a few hours escaping the world to enjoy an afternoon tea a sumptuous pleasure. For those enjoying the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea, tables have been specially updated with royal purple and gold place settings, complete with fun and festive model crowns and carriages.

The menu

The afternoon tea menu has been updated to take inspiration from the Queen’s journey through her 70 years on the throne and how her majesty takes her tea – always with Earl Grey and jam first, then cream on her scones. The finger sandwiches and savoury treats are filled with ingredients sourced from across the UK and are named for the Queen’s royal residences. The Windsor, a quail’s-egg mayonnaise-filled sandwich, is inspired by her spring visit to Windsor, known as the “Easter Court”; The Balmoral tart is filled with venison, chargrilled yellow peppers and flowers to evoke the summer retreats taken by the royals at their Scottish home; The Buckingham sandwich is a classic of ham and cheese and Colman’s mustard – the condiment was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1866; and the Sandringham, named after the royal family’s Christmas retreat, is an open sandwich that takes inspiration from the classic yuletide starter of smoked salmon with cream cheese, cucumber and caviar.

A selection of extremely fancy cakes follow the savoury course, each designed to represent a significant event in the Queen’s life and formed into extravagant and fun royal shapes. The bombe glacée Princess Elizabeth is a strawberry and chocolate layered pudding, a twist on the dessert served at the Queen’s wedding, and comes served in a tiny royal carriage designed after the one in which Her Majesty arrived at Westminster Abbey in 1947.

The Crown Jewels is a chocolate biscuit cake – the Queen’s favourite! – cleverly formed into the shape of a crown and sceptre for a suitably ceremonial looking treat. The Garden of Britain is a rose and chocolate cake with edible flowers that represent the United Kingdom’s flora, a nod to the flowers from across the country’s four territories carried by the Queen at her coronation. The exquisite Peaches a la Reine Alexandra is a frangipane, peach and apple tart similar to the one frequently served at royal banquets that is decorated with an edible replica of the feather brooch given to the Queen at her Diamond Jubilee.

The Royal Collection is a fragrant Earl Grey and orange mousse on a buttery Breton biscuit in the shape of a colourful hat, similar to the ones Her Majesty is famous for wearing. Each of the sweet treats has been crafted to pair beautifully with Earl Grey tea, the Queen’s favourite infusion. And, of course, an afternoon tea wouldn’t be complete without delicate and fluffy scones, served with lashings of jam and cream and a glass or two of Bollinger champagne – the house is a Royal Warrant holder, naturally.

The bill

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences is £70 per person or £95 per person to include half a bottle of champagne.

The verdict

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea is a lavish affair, served with a good dose of British eccentricity and whimsy. The cakes, sandwiches and scones taste even better than they look and demonstrate a truly outstanding level of precision and skill. The tea is also designed to entertain; it’s such a fun way to spend an afternoon, especially with the exceptional levels of service from the happy, dedicated and personable staff. If you really want to indulge, you could also check in to one of the hotel’s sumptuous suites for

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea is available from 2pm to 4pm seven days per week at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences. Vegetarian and vegan versions of the tea will be available upon request 48-hours in advance. taj51buckinghamgate.co.uk