It was a glittering celebration for famed Berkeley Square club Annabel's this week, as Dame Edna Everage welcomed guests to a pair of parties marking the establishment's 40th anniversary.
Tara Palmer-Tompkinson set flashbulbs popping in a silver sequinned Julien MacDonald gown which showed off her tanned legs, and Princess Michael of Kent was elegant in an eggshell-coloured shimmering top. Jemima Khan followed the evening's neutral-toned trend as well with a beige crocheted dress and ballet-style shoes.
Proprietor Mark Birley began the private club – named after his now ex-wife Lady Annabel Goldsmith – in 1963, with his society pals joining at about £5 a year. These days, the fee to join at Annabel's, which ranks among the top, and longest-running, clubs worldwide, is 150 times that amount.
But that's not the only thing that has changed at 44 Berkeley Square. Mark's children, son Robin, an entrepreneur, and daughter India-Jane, an artist, are taking over. The new management, along with tweaked club rules and a refurbished interior, hopes to attract more clientele from the younger set.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
