Queen Elizabeth was reportedly left in shock over one decorative item added at Prince William’s 21st birthday party.
The Royal Family’s go-to party planner has recalled the late monarch’s response after seeing a vodka luge – an ice sculpture with a channel running through it – at her grandson’s party.
In 2003, William celebrated his 21st birthday with an “out of Africa” at Windsor Castle, with musicians even flown in from Botswana.
The chosen vodka luge was shaped like an elephant, with the late Queen having to ask party planner and former royal warrant holder Johnny Roxburgh what it was.
Speaking on Channel 5’s Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea about events for the royals, Mr Roxburgh said: “I’ve done weddings. I’ve buried them. I’ve done birthday parties.
“I remember when it was William’s 21st [it] was a jungle theme.
“And we had this enormous vodka luge, which was made in the shape of an elephant’s head.”
Before the party took place, the late Queen appeared as someone poured vodka into the elephant’s head – which left her confused.
He added: “And she looked at me and said, ‘what is that?. And I said ‘Ma’am, it’s a vodka luge’.”
Discussing the interaction, he said: “I could have said it was a tin of Brasso because she just looked at me confused and said ‘hmmm’.”
Mr Roxburgh went on to say that William was “charming beyond belief” and that he was “wonderful to work with”.
William reportedly chose the theme due to his close ties with several African nations and his own charity work.
The party had 300 guests in total, including Rowan Atkinson – who were all asked to don outfits fit for the theme.
Speaking to Tatler, Mr Roxburgh, who has done many events throughout his career, said: “I’ve done parties that have cost tens of thousands of pounds. One minute we’re in Shanghai, the next we’re in Paris or in Russia. I did a dinner with [Vladimir] Putin. That was kind of extraordinary.”
He also spoke of the few parties he had planned for the late Queen, saying: “We did dinner for 600 guests in the grounds of Balmoral, and the Queen was always asking for photographs to be sent to her so she could see what we were building in the grounds of her castle.”
