The Garrick Club’s in a tizz – over Benedict Cumberbatch and his trainers

I have always been captivated by the lives of the aristocracy, and this article provides a fascinating insight into their world. Reading about Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, who felt like an outsider when she joined high society, only to later earn a master’s degree in English country house studies, is both inspiring and relatable.

The rarefied lounges of London’s exclusive Garrick Club are still reeling from the divisive vote to allow women to join, nearly two centuries after it was founded.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’ve noticed a recent stir in the historic Covent Garden establishment, established back in 1831 to serve as a gathering spot for gentlemen of distinction. A fresh wave of change is sparking debates among traditionalists, challenging the norms that have been in place for centuries.

The club maintains a formal dress code, rejecting entry to any member who arrives in sneakers or athletic shoes. However, this rule seems to have been momentarily waived for a new portrait of actor Benedict Cumberbatch, which was created within the club and depicts him in forbidden footwear.

In the Garrick’s bar, there hangs a painting featuring Benedict Cumberbatch (the Sherlock star) along with Damian Lewis and Matthew Macfayden. This impressive work has become the centerpiece among other notable portraits, including one of Richard Attenborough.

However, it appears that Cumberbatch’s choice of footwear has raised some eyebrows at The Garrick, as they have a rule requiring formal shoes for men and visitors, not trainers. This has sparked quite a commotion, according to my source in the salmon-and-cucumber tie.

Benedict opted to don a smart-casual pair of black sneakers for the portrait, which was created in the library of the club that he refers to as his favorite English room.

However, etiquette expert Nicky Haslam, whose father William Heywood Haslam previously held the position of chairman at the club, has come to Cumberbatch’s aid. When asked about the modernization, he says, “I think it’s quite amusing to give it a bit of a contemporary twist,” and furthermore, he believes that his father would approve as well.

As for me, my father wasn’t the traditional, stiff-collar type. He appreciated a bit of spontaneity in others – just never quite enough to understand the concept of ‘trainers,’ I suppose.

As a devoted supporter, I tried reaching out to The Garrick, the esteemed institution that recently granted membership to women, yet they were unreachable for comment at this time. However, their official website clearly specifies their dress code, which includes the prohibition of denim, trainers, or gym shoes.

Instead of relying on dating apps, it seems that an elite, invitation-only site called Radio H-P might become the go-to platform for wealthy families to facilitate their children’s future marital unions.

On the upscale version of Gumtree, I’ve been tipped off about an intriguing posting: ‘A Remarkable Daughter Seeks a Suitable Partner!’ The mother proudly showcases her unmarried daughter’s numerous attributes – such as being a ‘scuba diving expert’ – and requests someone who is both physically fit and healthy, with comparable values, to reach out.

Antonia much prefers Rupert’s hunky Rival 

92-year-old author Antonia Fraser’s heart skipped a beat, much like that of a youngster, upon viewing Aidan Turner portraying Declan O’Hara in the television adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s steamy novel Rivals.

At The Oldie Of The Year Awards lunch, she confides in me that Rupert Campbell-Black [played by Alex Hassell] isn’t her top choice. Instead, it would be Aidan Turner she’d choose to elope with. When I ask if Turner reminds her of her late husband, the playwright Harold Pinter, she responds, ‘Indeed.’ Quite a witty remark…

In the ’90s, the mothers of Trinny and Susannah were popular TV hosts who provided fashion guidance to many women. Now, it’s the daughters who are revising the principles of What Not To Wear. Their initial suggestion? Avoid eyeliner if you’ve reached a certain age.

In a video shared by Tatler, Trinny Woodall’s daughter, Lyla Elichaoff, expresses her thoughts about makeup for women over 40: “At that age, when wrinkles start to appear, you don’t really want to put on eyeliner because it seems to highlight and emphasize the wrinkles around your eyes even more.

It seems that a spin-off of the TV show is unlikely, as Susannah Constantine’s daughter, Esme Bertelsen, has turned down an opportunity to appear on Made In Chelsea. When asked about it, she chuckles and firmly says, “No way!

Windsor is now in the East End

Is it possible that Lady Amelia Windsor might adopt a Cockney accent since she’s relocated to London’s East End, specifically Dalston? The 28-year-old royal figure has chosen to leave the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea behind, opting instead to live with her partner, Ollie Lewis.

This summer, the couple who seemed deeply in love at Glastonbury, have departed, and they’ll now share a neighborhood with Alexa Chung and Paul Mescal. There’s even a chance Amelia’s grandpa, the Duke of Kent, might drop by the East End?

For Grace Campbell, the comedian daughter of Tony Blair’s spin doctor turned podcaster Alastair Campbell, health is no laughing matter. 

The 30-year-old says she suffers ‘mad’ hypochondria when looking up symptoms online to diagnose herself. ‘I’ve been convinced that I’ve had so many different illnesses over the years, including prostate cancer,’ she says. ‘My mum had to tell me that wasn’t possible.’ 

From lady to master

How does a US-born chatelaine who feels ‘like an outsider’ set about fitting in with high society? 

By completing a master’s degree in English country house studies, of course. 

Julie Montagu, later known as Viscountess Hinchingbrooke following her marriage to the future Earl of Sandwich, was photographed outside her residence, Mapperton House in Dorset, with her freshly completed dissertation.

‘I was nervous. I felt intimidated,’ she says of joining the aristocracy 20 years ago. 

‘I was definitely naive about some things. I wanted to take this course to swot up. I’m American, and so my knowledge of the country house, even though I live in one myself and I manage one myself, is limited.’ 

The academic work she wrote at Buckingham University revolves around reinterpreting the image of early American socialite, Alberta Sturge, who was once the Countess of Sandwich. This research is set to be published as a book in the future.

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2024-11-24 02:36