Nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside, Highgrove House — the private residence of His Majesty King Charles III — set the stage for a gloriously festive Christmas Tablescapes & Canapé Masterclass.

While browsing for seasonal inspiration near Burford, where Glenn, our friend Leanne, and I were staying on a recent trip to England, we stumbled upon this event, promising holiday tables, expert demonstrations, and an infusion of royal charm. We signed up immediately. Glenn volunteered to drive and agreed to attend the workshop. Marital compromise at its best. And what a day it was.

Royal Presence, Cordial Security

We arrived to warm smiles and… automatic weapons. Two exceptionally polite police officers greeted us at the gates — an unusual sight in the English countryside, but entirely appropriate, given that His Majesty King Charles III was in residence.

Passports were checked and names confirmed, all with the calm professionalism one expects of a royal security detail. The festive atmosphere was undisturbed, yet quietly electrified by the King’s presence just across the grounds.

Orchard House: The Workshop Setting

The workshop took place in Orchard House, one of Highgrove’s outbuildings used for public events. The room was brimming with Christmas charm — evergreens, twinkling lights, and lavishly styled tables. Think: vintage wood chargers, moss-lined vases, handmade crackers, and candlelight flickering against red velvet ribbon.

The tone was intimate but refined. Just right.

Tablescaping with Sarah Fenwick

The tablescaping portion of the workshop was led by Sarah Fenwick of Cotswold Tablescapes. She spoke warmly and well of all the elements that go into a memorable tablescape. Her particular focus is nature-inspired, or garden-themed settings—something I can get right behind.

Her main line of business is block-printed linens, and her naturalistic aesthetic was on full display.

Sarah designs the prints herself and has them hand-printed in India. Sadly, her signature ivy print hadn’t arrived in time for our workshop — a hiccup in the shipping chain — but the absence was barely noticed among the lush textures of moss, berries, dried citrus, and hellebores.

Each table told a story. One, dressed in woodland tones and brown transferware, evoked a quiet forest walk.

I was intrigued by the modern feel of the transferware plate with its leopard? skin border.

At the first opportunity, I checked for the manufacturer, and sure enough, it’s a modern take on a traditional coaching inns theme. Sarah spoke about how often she buys her tableware at thrift shops.

Dried citrus is very popular this year. We saw a lot of it at the Christmas Markets we visited at Chatsworth and Blenheim (more on that in a future post over at Entertablement Abroad). Here, Sarah placed dried orange and lime slices between two glass vases, inserting a strand of battery-operated Christmas lights inside the inner vase. And note the hand-painted candles, available from Stephanie at Etsy.

The final table was pure drama: crimson hydrangeas, glowing candles, and a roaring fire nearby.

I loved the pattern on the green plate. Sadly, I did not turn it over to snap a photo of the back to get the maker. But Sarah chose well for the event! The central motif is the Prince of Wales’ feathers monogram. 🙂

She also gave us a list of her “save” and “splurge sources.

 

I very much like Emma Bridgewater’s “Ivy” pattern—the large dinner plate at the back and the small dessert plate at the front. The Ivy salad plate in between is from Primark at £8 a plate.

Sarah’s favourite source of cutlery is Capdeco, a French company. Lovely weight to the pieces, and they are excellent quality. You can see the green-handled version below.

Sarah’s styling philosophy embraces the seasonal, the reusable, and the textural — layers that feel natural, not contrived.

We all got an opportunity to try napkin folding, as well. Here, Sarah has created a Poinsietta fold, anchored with a painted ceramic rose.

The Canapé Queen & The Thermomix

The culinary demonstration came from the marvelously witty Kelley Bailey of The Buttery Dish. Kelley’s specialty? Canapés. Just canapés. She doesn’t do salads. No mains. Only tiny, delicious bites. Her team — all former air hostesses — serves up to 3,000 canapés per event. Three per guest, passed with grace, and then they’re gone. Just like Kelley, who’s famously home by 9:30 pm. Every caterer’s dream.

Kelley whipped up two small bites. The first was a champagne glass topper.

It’s a very flavourful Parmesan biscuit base, cut in a size just large enough to perch on top of the champagne glass. Kelley explained that a savoury bite, accompanied by a welcoming glass of champagne, gives a hostess about 20 minutes before the guests begin searching for more food. Just before the guests start to arrive, fill the champagne flutes, top them with the biscuits and then turn your attention to putting the finishing touches on the remaining canapés. Genius.

 

A swirl of pesto in the centre of the biscuit anchors a curled strip of cucumber, a dried pansy and a small star also cut from the Parmesan biscuit dough.

The second canapé was a deconstructed figgy pudding ball, garnished with a tiny fondant ivy leaf, sitting on a bed of brandy cream, perched on either a small chocolate biscuit base or atop a white ceramic spoon. Gorgeous and delicious.

The star of her station was the Thermomix, a countertop appliance that stirs, steams, weighs, blends, and more — all guided by preloaded recipes. A food processor reimagined for the Jetsons. In seconds flat, Sarah whipped up the biscuit bases in this magical machine. She had pre-baked the biscuits she used for the demonstration, but it was interesting to see how quickly and competently she worked. I began to understand how she could produce massive numbers of canapés for events. And remain cheerful and calm.

The King’s Artistic Touch

High on the walls of Orchard House are a series of portraits painted by King Charles himself. Loosely rendered and deeply personal, the paintings included family members and royal interiors, captured with painterly affection rather than pomp and circumstance. It was easy to recognize Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in the large central painting, flanked by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

A family gathering with Prince William in the foreground and Prince Harry crouched beside his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Note that all the portraits of “the Queen Mum”  show her in one of her hats, without which she was rarely seen.

Closing Reflection

From the canapés to the candlelight, from the block-printed linens to the brushstrokes on the wall, the day was a vibrant reminder that festivity can be both joyful and grounded. Thoughtful preparation, good food and a dash of humour — that’s the recipe for a season well spent.