Welcome to our new summer series: Festive Fridays! We want to have all the fun this summer, so every Friday we’re going to share ideas for celebrating: everything from cocktail recipes to ideas for theme parties to simple entertaining ideas. We hope it helps you add a little flair to your gatherings and make this summer as memorable as possible while keepings things easy and stress-free.

We’re starting out this week with a party that our family threw for Dinah over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate a big work victory that she accomplished. Our mom and brothers and I were debating the theme, but knowing how much Dinah loves the royal family, it was pretty easy to decide!

Festive Friday: Royal Theme Party

I was in charge of decor, so I did what I do best-ordered things from Amazon! I got a set of flags and a set of photo booth props, and I stuck both of those in the flower arrangements, in empty vases, in the cheese and pretty much in everything that I could reach to add a festive atmosphere. I also got some hanging signs and ordered the most fun Royal Bingo, which we played all weekend and that I can’t recommend enough. It has royal family members from all over the world, so the kids got a real education about tiny European principalities and the adults had a great time critiquing the drawings of everyone (some people were treated better than others by the artists!).

Our mom was in charge of putting together an English menu, so for hors d’oeuvres we had a special Pimm’s cocktail with Pimm’s, lemonade and prosecco, grilled bangers and English mustard, cucumber tea sandwiches and a Cheese Platter with three cheeses from England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. For dinner we had salmon (one of the Queen’s favorites) and the best couscous and roasted veggie salad from my mom’s favorite English cookbook by Delia Smith.

Our brother was in charge of the dessert, which meant that our sister-in-law made the most amazing trifle that you’ve ever seen! It was angel food cake cut up into little squares, homemade whipped cream and the strawberries and blueberries, all layered one on top of the other in a beautiful glass bowl. It was so festive and simple and I’d like to eat it every weekend for the rest of the summer.

Cheers from our family to yours and we hope you have a fun and festive weekend!!

(Click on the photos below for links to everything you need for an English or Royal theme party)

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