There is no doubt that a state banquet represents the decency of a country.
As a constitutional monarchy, the state banquet in the United Kingdom is inevitably linked to the royal family. Today, let's dig deeper into what a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in the UK looks like
British state dinners are often associated with state visits, which refer to an official visit to the UK by heads of state of an overseas country.
The royal family entertains guests at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.
The previous Queen Elizabeth II hosted more than 150 heads of state during her reign, and the current King Charles began his first state dinner in November 2022.
The UK*** and the royal family share responsibility for state visits, which usually include a series of activities.
Formal invitations are often sent out 2 months before the start of the banquet, while preparations for a state banquet often begin several weeks in advance.
Every element of the state banquet is inspected, reviewed and approved by the Queen and the King, down to every detail.
Since 1914, state dinners in London have traditionally been held in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace.
This ballroom is the largest room in Buckingham Palace and was built in 1855 during the reign of Queen Victoria.
The two thrones in the ballroom were originally designed for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902.
Above the throne there is a triumphal arch flanked by sphinxes, followed by a huge throne canopy.
The winged figure on the canopy symbolizes history and fame, and there is also a coat of arms with the image of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
At Buckingham Palace, tables are traditionally arranged in a horseshoe shape, with kings and dignitaries sitting at the top table.
This table is adorned with more than 100 glittering golden candles, as well as seasonal fruit and floral decorations.
The state banquet at Windsor Castle is held in St. George's Hall, with a 50-metre-long table running through the room.
The king and the Führer sat at the table**, and the musicians performed on the balcony at the end of the hall.
Once the table is set, the ornaments are brought over, then placed in the right place, and finally retouched and adjusted.
The tableware used at the state banquet is also very particular. At the beginning of the 19th century, George IV, Prince of Wales, customised a set of ornate silver-gilt tableware containing 4,000 pieces and costing at least £60,000.
This ** was first used at banquets in 1811, and until now, it has also been a "frequent guest" at British state banquets.
In order to prepare the state dinner, eight staff members spent three weeks cleaning and polishing the dishes.
The royal chefs are responsible for designing the menu for the state dinner, which traditionally consists of four courses, usually two large courses, followed by pudding and dessert (fruit).
The preparation of the kitchen is very tedious, and each dish and every process is started from scratch to ensure that it is done by hand.
The staff of the Royal Wine Cellar will work with the reception manager to select the wines that match the food.
In the case of the 2014 State Visit banquet for the head of state of Singapore, the food on the menu looked quite extravagant:
Dover flounder fillet with salmon mousse and white wine cream sauce.
Sandringham Estate Pheasant Stew with truffles, root vegetables, leaf beets and sweet potatoes.
Chocolate praline ice cream bombs.
Seasonal fruits.
These are some of the contents of the British State Dinner, what do you think about it?