Inside the most extravagant aristocratic Christmas parties of all time – Tatler

Has your inbox felt surprisingly empty lately? Is your doormat strangely free of reassuringly thick invitations? Tis traditionally the season to be out, out, out, but thanks to the pandemic Christmas parties are, by and large, off the cards this year. But dont be too downcast: there are no rules against opening countless bottles of champagne and slipping into your finest festive outfit on a casual Wednesday at home. Cast your mind back to the best and most extravagant parties from years gone by when social distancing simply meant ignoring the bore in the corner and take inspiration from their hedonistic traditions.

Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall on a beach in Mustique, 1987

Georges De Keerle / Getty Images

With a bit of imagination, you may even be able to transport yourself from a damp, grey England to the shores of Mustique, where Lady Anne Glenconner and her husband, Colin Tennant, would spend Christmas. Genial and hugely popular local Basil (who still runs a bar on the island today) would dress up as Father Christmas in a red suit and fake beard though he was famous for arriving by boat, rather than a sleigh. The festivities were also enjoyed by rock royalty, from Mick Jagger to David Bowie, who would uproot thorn bushes in place of fir trees and festoon them with fairy lights. Carol services hosted in the tiny bamboo church and attended by global superstars, rather than those from the neighbouring estate were also an update on the traditional. These days, Mustique is popular with the Royals all year round; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge even invited Basil to their wedding.

Lady Mary Charteris and Poppy Delevingne at the LOVE Christmas Drinks, 2019

Dave Benett / Getty Images

Back in Europe, parties are notoriously high-voltage: billionaire banker Maurice Amon, for example, is known for hosting bombastic annual get-togethers in jet-set ski resort Gstaad, complete with bowls of cigarettes and bottomless champagne. Those with no invite dont go without fun, however after a significant amount of Glhwein from the little stand in the village (known by all to sell the best) or fondue at Le Cerf in Rougemont (keep your eyes peeled for an appearance from local resident, Julie Andrews) everyone ends up downstairs at The Gstaad Palace hotels GreenGo nightclub. The next day? Its best spent having lunch at the Eagle Club, avoiding the slopes until your headache has died down.

Sabine Getty at the launch of the Claridge's Christmas Tree 2019 designed by Christian Louboutin

Dave Benett / Getty Images for Claridge's

Closer to home, the smart set know how to do Christmas right. The Marchioness of Bath and Sabine Getty are known to frequent the Claridges bash (last year hosted by Christian Louboutin and featuring by far the most popular canape of the season, Lobster Wellington). Alice Naylor-Leyland, Poppy Delevingne and Mary Charteris all of whom can be relied upon to know a good party rarely miss the famously good LOVE magazine shindig, always attended by the brightest designers of the day (and, on occasion, Coco the Camel).

Youd be forgiven for thinking Christmas parties held at country estates would be more low-key, but English aristocrats arent always known for their best behaviour. Lady Annabel Goldsmith recalls her first Christmas at the family pile, Wynyard Park, with her then-husband Mark Birley, as a rather eventful one: Mark remained quite calm one evening when Daddy persuaded the local vet's daughter to remove her clothes and dance naked on the dining-room table, she has said. He drank champagne from one of her shoes, held impassively by Robert the butler. Its food (or indeed champagne) for thought, should spending the Christmas season at home seem rather gloomy. And if all else fails, take a leaf out of the Queens book: her traditional, black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve may be cancelled this year, but we doubt shell be forgoing a Zaza, her favourite cocktail. Pass the Dubonnet