A Royal Heritage

Are you counting down the hours until the royal wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton? What is it about royal weddings that make some of us smile and get a little tingle in our tummy? If by some chance you haven’t yet discovered Laura Ingalls Gunn’s Wedding Wednesday posts at her blog Decor to Adore, you really don’t want to miss them. Such fantastic royal wedding trivia, traditions — and lots of great photographs!

 

Renaissance Man doesn’t understand all the hoopla. In fact, I think he’s glad I’ll be in Texas visiting my sister on wedding day. He thinks I’d want to “chat” with him about all the details. Wrong! I’d really just want to be left alone in front of the TV to soak them in … maybe with a plate of tea sandwiches and scones with lemon curd on a silver tray. Yes, I think that would be nice.

 

Obviously, a nod to royalty is appropriate for this week’s tablescape — so I decided to go with a Midas Touch.

 

My vintage gold damask tablecloth and napkins serve as an elegant foundation for the Lenox china. I’ve paired Lenox Stanford plates with a Lenox Hanover bouillon soup and saucer — all set atop an inexpensive basket-weave charger.

The centerpiece started with an ornately framed gold mirror to which was added a cut crystal vase.

I learned several years ago that an old small antique chandelier would fit carefully on top of the vase to make a showy candelabra. The chandelier wasn’t in good shape and needed to be re-wired, so a coat of gold spray paint and some gold grape clusters gave it new life. I once managed to get tall taper candles into the candle bases, but quite honestly, it was a hassle. This time I set vintage salt cellars on top of the “candles” and used them as tea light holders. Obviously, if you do that for a real dinner party, you need to find a way to make them stable.

I love all of the sparkle and texture!

 

The topiary place card holders were bought at Bombay many years ago … and the 24K gold candle holders were an auction box surprise.

The gold-rimmed glasses came from an auction as well.

Even the I’ve-had-them-forever dollar store beaded napkin rings add some royal sparkle.

The pair of little brandy snifters with crown and monogram were Goodwill finds.

 

The golden yellow roses are from our garden and are David Austin English roses. If you try hard, you can probably smell them wherever you are — they are THAT aromatic!

Surely no royal tablescape is complete without a gift for the guest of honor.

I’m writing this post on the eve of Easter … and thinking about royalty … and gifts …

…and I just realized an old poem-turned hymn is running through my mind.  Do you know it? Can you claim its words? I pray you can.

 

My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

 

Refrain:
I’m a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I’m a child of the King.

 

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.

 

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

 

A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.

 

Words by Harriet E. Buell (1877)
Music by John B. Sumner

 

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:14-17)

I’m linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch and Royal Wedding Wednesday at Decor To Adore. Join me there!

Comments

  1. Stunning table. Love using the frame in the center. It truly is a table fit for royalty.
    Happy Spring come visit me sometime

  2. Oh, such a glorious table. Perfect for the celebration!!!

    Hope to see you at Seasonal Sundays.

    – The Tablescaper

  3. This is soooo…gorgeous! Love every pics of the table..
    You got a beautiful blog:)

    Hope to see you on my blog:)

    Sanghamitra.
    http://rainbow-thecoloursofindia.blogspot.com

  4. That certainly is a table setting fit for a royal wedding. It is so lovely with all the gold and sparkle.

  5. So so pretty. I love all the gold rimmed dishes and stemware…just beautiful. Enjoy your trip to Texas…it’s HOT down here already!

  6. oh my gosh, such a beautiful tablescape. God Bless!

  7. Your Lenox is perfect for your royal tablescape. Great get on the goblets….someday, I’ll find some, too. Thank you for sharing your lovely design. Cherry Kay

  8. Susan, what a stunning table! The gold trimmed china and crystal are truly fit for royalty, and you even have golden yellow roses! I enjoyed reading about your unusual centerpiece — really one-of-a-kind! Enjoy your visit to your sister! I’ll be in Little Rock with mine, visiting our parents.

  9. I read this post very slowly and enjoyed every beautifully gilded feature. When I got to the end and to your point and the poem, I decided that this is probably the best tablescape post I’ve ever seen.

    What a pleasure to visit here this morning.

  10. Those are stunning dishes. Beautiful job!

    Singing along with that old hymn. So blessed to be able to call myself “A Child of the King!” Great post!

  11. Perfection! What a royal celebration could be shared at this beautiful table.
    Linda @ A Toile Tale

  12. What a beautifully set table for a royal celebration. Mr. Mid-Atlantic rolls his eyes over the media frenzy over the wedding. — I’ll have to catch a few snippits before work.

  13. What an absolutely beautiful setting truly fit for a Queen. I adore the accompanying verse.

    The yellow rose was Princess Diana’s favorite flower. 🙂

    Thank you for linking up!

  14. YAY!! So happy to see and VERY well done! Grace and elegance to share for the day of the Royal Wedding… Beautifully done and happy to see. xo

    Thanks for sharing over at Susan’s!

    😀 Lynda

  15. Sheer elegance, fit for royalty! I love everything about your table…beautiful china.

  16. What a gorgeous table!!! I LOVE the Lenox china, but the whole table is just stunning!!

    I’m with you on the Royal Wedding and my husband is feeling pretty much the same as yours! The irony of it all is that he is ENGLISH! (not a big fan of the royals), but he knows that I get the HD tv for this!!!

    Enjoy the wedding with tea and scones or whatever you and your sister indulge in!!

  17. Your table is fit for a prince and princess or king and queen. The most beautiful tablescape I have seen yet.
    didn’t watch the wedding but will see videos of it on break.

  18. Your table is fit for a prince and princess or king and queen. The most beautiful tablescape I have seen yet.
    didn’t watch the wedding but will see videos of it on break.