Parties You Will Never Get Into

His Royal Highness, The Prince Charles of Wales, celebrated his 60th birthday last Nov. 14, 2008. His mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, threw him a black-tie gala on November 13, 2008, the eve of his 60th birthday. More or less 450 friends, dignitaries, heads of state, and Europe’s royals came to Buckingham palace to greet Prince Charles. Crowned guests included King Constantine and Queen Anne Marie of Greece, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium. Politicians included UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. Legendary singer Shirley Bassey was also in the guest list.

Guests were received with lavish champagne, after which they walked to the palace ballroom for a concert of The Philharmonia Orchestra. Conducted by Christopher Warren-Green, who directed for the Prince’s second wedding, the recital lasted for over an hour.

For the private candlelight dinner, The Queen led the Royal Family to the Queen’s Gallery. Wearing a champagne-colored gown and diamond-studded choker, she was joined by the celebrator; his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward; sons William and Harry; and father Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Lady Sarah Chatto, the Queen’s niece, was also in attendance.

Great Britain’s royals dined on venison culled from the Queen’s Highland estate, Balmoral, salmon, and sorbet. Liam Stevenson, Master of Wine, had readied a bottle of Puligny Montrachet 2006, Chateau Leoville Barton St Julien 1988 with the main course, Sauternes Barsac 1996 with the dessert, and Royal Vintage 1955 as port. The most vintage wine was sourced from the Palace’s own cellar.

Prince Charles left before midnight. He awoke on his birthday to a 41-Gun Salute from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park, followed by a 62-Gun salute in the Tower of London.

That night’s bedecked dinner was only the first of two, the other one being a less formal celebration, with entertainment from rock star Rod Stewart. Actresses Dame Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley and comedians Rowan Atkinson and Sanjeev Bhaskar were invited to the merriment at the Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. Stephen Fry and Alan Titchmarsh also attended; so did Nicholas Soames MP, Winston Churchhill’s grandson, and Sir David Frost.

Princes William and Harry attended the bash thrown by the Duchess of Cornwall.