lifeofyablon.com

Next month a new baby will be born.  And unlike most of the other babies born into the world, this one will be a REAL princess/prince – not just in the eyes of her/his parents.

the Athenaeum hotel, 116 Piccadilly, W1

While some of us are preoccupied by the sex, date, name, eye colour and zodiac sign of this particular unborn, I was more interested in meeting Ian Pelham-Turner, one of the royal photographers who knows more than most about snapping the blue blooded crew.  Seeing as he has spent the last 46 years working with four generations of the Royal Family, I dashed to the Athenaeum hotel, 116 Piccadilly, to encourage him to spill the beans on those Royals in front of his lens.

Charles, Diana and baby William shot by Ian Pelham-Turner

The hotel is hosting a ‘The Royal Child’ exhibition of more than 50 images including HM The Queen with the young Charles and Anne and an even younger William on the occasion of his first Christmas.

across the table from Ian Pelham-Turner, the Royal photographer

While I poured over the pictures, probed Ian for more anecdotes and scribbled my notes, I (somehow) managed to also consume the most fantastic afternoon tea.  A tea fit for any princess…

my Royal tea with a young Princess Elizabeth making sandcastles in the background

I was most fascinated by an unseen photograph (produced as a postcard) of the then Princess Elizabeth, aged 3 or 4 years old.  She is building sandcastles on the beach at Bognor Regis.  Ian found this gem in a London antiquarian bookshop, simply posing as bookmark inside a book about the Royal Family.  As it is not currently part of the Royal Collection and taken by an unknown source, Ian is determined to discover the mystery behind this image.

the Athenaeum hotel scones

For the last two years, Ian –  together with his colleague Helena Chard – has been planning how the new baby shot should be styled.  He has collated a mood board of ideas which have been sent to him from around the whole.  Of course, he shouldn’t jump the gun and must await his formal commission… oh and the Duchess of Cambridge needs to look suitably glamorous post-push too.

This visual and edible treat will run at weekends from 6^th July – 31st August at 1.30pm – 3.00pm and 4.00pm -5.30pm.

Costs £60 per person – call the Athenaeum hotel on 020 7640 3364 to reserve.

Royal Life Magazine, HM Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles & Princess Anne

I was between meetings, the most dangerous time to feel hungry.   Craving energy, I honestly only wanted a big coffee with equal-size pastry.  But my Plenish Cleanse days did teach me something: a fresh vegetable/fruit juice can make you feel full, energized and, of course, as virtuous as a supermodel.

It was at this moment that I first spotted Joe and the Juice.  Just off Carnaby Street, the 4^th UK branch of the Danish coffee/juice chain was playing some pretty pumping tunes for 11am.  The large logoed windows and somewhat gloomy interior didn’t initially lure me in but, once inside, its simple and spacious interior felt relaxed and cool in comparison with other brightly lit and crowded high street coffee chains.

apples make juice

Wire baskets of fruit and hessian sacks of coffee lie open to tempt you.  I was a little overwhelmed.  A handsome barista came to my rescue.

“Are you Joe?” I asked with a big smile.

The cool dude in a trilby (note:  no uniform) laughed, not unkindly.

‘This is a chain’ he explained.  ‘And there is no Joe.’

Feeling deeply uncool, I quickly ordered the Veggie Focus: apple, carrot, celery.  The dude suggested I might add a little spinach to the concoction. (£3.95)

Santos juicer

Of course then I wanted to know more.  What makes Joe & the Juice a certainly different addition to our café market?  It feels very media-Soho so can this formula really work on Regent’s Street (where there is also a branch)?  Curiously not classically Nordic in style but boasting more than 15 in its homeland – and with an aggressive european domination expansion plan – what is the crux of this juice brand?

In response to all my Qs, I’ve decided Joe and the Juice is fashion’s answer to a cool coffee/juice hangout. Recently having celebrated its 10^th anniversary, the chain is ultimately aimed at the young retail addict but with a winning formula of healthy good living mixed with cool ambiance, it will appeal to those much older too.

Joe and the Juice – visit the site even if just to listen to their soundtrack….

65-67 Broadwick Street W1 (at the end of Carnaby St.)