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The Dorchester hotel has revealed plans to recreate the decorations used for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 for the upcoming coronation of King Charles in May.
The original decorations for the 1953 coronation were created by British stage set designer Oliver Messel, who also unveiled a luxury suite at The Dorchester during the same year. Messel’s design included dramatic draping across the hotel’s balconies, created to make the hotel’s façade look like the interior of a theatre seen from the stage.
The decorations will be unveiled on 20 April 2023 and will last until 19 May.
In addition, The Dorchester has disclosed a variety of plans for the coronation weekend, starting with offering a royal take on its world-famous afternoon tea. From 5 to 8 May, guests can enjoy a selection of themed cakes, sandwiches and Champagne deliberately created by executive pastry chef Michael Kwan. Coronation Afternoon Tea is priced at £125 per person.
Guests of the hotel will also be able to visit the new Cake and Flowers boutique, where in-house designer florist Philip Hammond will create a floral display in the window. As tribute to the coronation emblem, Hammond will also create floral arrangements throughout the hotel utilising the flora of the four nations of the United Kingdom: the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and the shamrock of Northern Ireland.
The hotel’s new cocktail venue, Vesper Bar, will serve a special martini ‘Sovereign Martini’ inspired by The King’s favourite tipple using Wessex gin.
By 6 May, The Dorchester will have celebrated three royal coronations, the first in 1937 for King George VI.
