Queen’s 90th birthday bash at men –only club
David CAMERON famously resigned in 2008 as a member of gentleman’s club White’s in protest at its refusal to admit women members.
But there is one female who is always welcome at the oldest and most exclusive club in London — the Queen.
She first visited the establishment in St James’s Street in 1991 and last week was back at London’s most raffish venue with Prince Philip for a lunch at the invitation of the club to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Prince Charles — who held his Bollinger-fuelled stag night there in 1981 before his wedding to Lady diana Spencer — and Prince William are members at White’s, where former prime minister Cameron’s father ian was once chairman.
But even in the 21st century the club, which specialises in game dishes and is rarely called upon to serve one of its vegetarian options for lunch, refuses to move with the times and admit women members.
interestingly, Cameron has been spotted at the club several times since
his July departure from Downing Street. However, his office assures me he has not renewed his membership.
The club, founded in 1693 as a hot chocolate house, was embroiled in royal controversy two years ago after a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge withdrew his membership application after he was threatened with being ‘blackballed’.
Dr Mark Cecil, a hedge fund millionaire who had entertained William and Kate at his villa in Mustique, was told he was not welcome at the establishment and would be rejected if he tried to join.
It is believed he had fallen foul of his Harrow contemporary and rival hedge fund boss Crispin Odey, founder of Odey Asset Management, who deemed him ‘a pushy social networker’.
The incident caused great embarrassment to Cecil’s membership proposer and seconder, Viscount Daventry and pop star Bryan Ferry.
The Queen seldom crosses the threshold of gentlemen’s clubs, which is perhaps just as well given their toxic environment.
Annabel’s is said to be the only nightclub she has ever visited. She popped in for a party there in 2003, when she sipped a gin martini.