There are many enduring images from Kate Middleton 's marriage to Prince William ...
not all of them involving her sister's flattering bridesmaid dress. If you remember the beaming bride-to-be waving to crowds as she arrived in Belgravia on the eve of the wedding, you no doubt caught a glimpse of The Goring. It was here, just a royal wave from Buckingham Palace , that Kate – accompanied by her family – chose to spend her last night as a single woman.
Opened by Otto Goring in 1910, it is now the only five-star luxury hotel in London still owned and run by the family who built it. Steeped in history, it was used as a command centre for the Chief of Allied Forces following the outbreak of the First World War and was briefly annexed by the palace in 1953, to accommodate an influx of visiting monarchs for the coronation of the late Queen. Today it has 69 rooms and suites, all individually styled by English designers.
The jewel in the crown is the Royal Suite, the hotel's exquisite penthouse. Budget or boutique? Rubbing shoulders with royalty, or at least following in their regal footsteps, comes at a price. No less than you'd expect for a hotel consistently ranked “one of the finest five star properties in the world” by the coveted Forbes Travel Guide award displayed at the entrance.
Room service Times have changed since the early 1900s when The Goring won acclaim as the first hotel in the world to have bathrooms in all its rooms. After a session in the private gym, I coul.