Friends in high places! How Meghan recruited Amal and Serena to plan baby shower
A HARP and some of the best hands in the business to play it, a candy floss machine, meat provided for the foodie crowd by arguably the finest butcher in New York, and the most expensive and largest suite in America.
Meghan Markle’s baby shower – co-hosted by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and paid for by tennis player Serena Williams – cannot be said to have lacked any luxury.
Held at The Mark hotel on the Upper East Side of New York, it saw Meghan’s closest friends come together to celebrate her forthcoming baby in five-star style. At 11.45am, as her guests began to gather, snow started to fall, lending an appropriately fairytale touch to an out-of-this-world party.
Surely there’s never been a baby shower quite like this one, which combined unlimited funds with an unbridled taste for the best.
The party was held in the hotel’s penthouse suite – a spectacular set of rooms previously graced by ex-president Bill Clinton, former Russian premier Mikhail Gorbachev and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. It costs up to €76,000 a night, making it the most expensive and largest suite in America.
On to that you may add some €17,500 for accommodation for Meghan, 37, who stayed in a twobedroom suite on the tenth floor for six nights. Add a further €115,000 for a return trip on a private jet and possibly another €34,000 or more on catering, entertainment and favours for guests.
If you tot it all up – and if Serena didn’t get discounts or freebies – the afternoon party may have cost more than €240,000.
Flowering cherry trees were delivered to the hotel on Tuesday afternoon, thought to be destined for the grand ballroom in the penthouse, and meat was seen being delivered yesterday by butchers DeBragga – whose steaks cost up to €170 each – along with a candy floss machine.
The Mark’s head chef, Michelinstarred Jean-Georges Vongerichten, is world famous. In his restaurant, a sushi roll – one of Meghan’s favourites – costs €27, a club sandwich €25 and the cheapest bottle of champagne €138.
So what did the party get for all this expense? They had the run of a vast two-floor set of rooms, with five bedrooms, two bars, a conservatory, a library and a terrace so large that it hosts small weddings. With an interior by designer Jacques Grange, it’s not far off a palace, all ebony fittings and fine Italian linens.
Guests were serenaded by Erin Hill, America’s top harpist. Luggage designed by model Karlie Kloss – gifts for attendees, perhaps – was seen arriving, as was a Babyletto cot, presumably for the baby, who will be the seventh in line to the British throne when he or she arrives in April.
Inside with the duchess were her invited guests: fashion designer Misha Nonoo, who introduced her to Harry; Serena and Amal; Jessica Mulroney, her best friend in Toronto who now advises her on styling; former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer; TV presenter Gayle King; and Meghan’s friend Markus Anderson, an executive at the Soho House group. Serena – who had been out with Meghan on Tuesday, bringing the Big Apple to a standstill – was already in the hotel as they arrived.
Mrs Clooney, 41, showed up in a stunning red jumpsuit and gold heels, and seemed skittish with excitement as she took the private lift to the penthouse. Notably absent, however, was Meghan’s rock, her mother Doria Ragland. She was spotted at home in LA on Tuesday, walking her dog.
According to Tatler magazine, the baby shower began with a flower arranging lesson and a greeting from head chef Vongerichten, who had prepared a lavish dessert table. Guests inside the hotel said they saw the duchess wearing a black and white polka dot dress ahead of her party.
Meghan was thought to be flying home to London last night. She and Prince Harry are due in Casablanca on Saturday.