Right royal fun in Rotorua: Queen's Birthday high tea a chance to celebrate, dress up and catch up

Barry Jenkins (left) with Neila and Dan Blackmore, standing out from the crowd. Photo / Stephen Parker

It was an afternoon of sequins, scones and tiaras as Rotorua royalists celebrated Queen's Birthday weekend in style.

It was the fourth celebration Barry Jenkins has organised at the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua and yesterdaymore than 80 people joined him for an afternoon of fun.

The high tea was to celebrate several royal occasions: the royal wedding, the Queen's sapphire jubilee, the arrival of a new prince and the Duke of Edinburgh and his wife's 70th wedding anniversary.

"All of the ladies have come in fancy dress, they are here with their tiaras," Jenkins said.

"We're all just having a load of fun."

Jenkins - a self-confessed royalist - donned his bow tie and a crown for the occasion.

The attendance was above his expectations and the room was abuzz with conversation and the clinking of tea cups.

The group enjoyed mini tarts, sandwiches and scones as they participated in a royal family quiz and caught up with old friends.

Questions in the quiz varied from how people could know the Queen was in residence at Buckingham Palace, to why Queen Victoria refused to have the fires lit in Buckingham Palace.

Jenkins adorned the room with the Union Jack, royal family flags and images of the Queen.

"The main thing was just to get people together, get them dressed up and enjoying themselves.

"Royalism is alive and well in Rotorua."

Local resident Ann Bosomworth went along to the event with a group of her girlfriends.

"We came to the last one as well. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

"It's a good chance to get together with the girlfriends and have a laugh, and, it's a chance to get all dressed up."

Originally from Scotland, Bosomworth has fond memories of watching Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.

"We all got together at the neighbour's house, because there weren't many televisions on our street."

Resident Margaret Lett confessed she didn't know many of the answers to the royal family quiz, but had a good time.

"It's been lovely. We've actually been to a few of these events hosted by Barry."