Princess garden tea party

What it is

A garden turned into a royal tea party. Children dress up, make their own crowns, plant a flower in a pot they decorate, and sit down to a proper tea with teacups and tiered plates of tiny sandwiches. It feels special without being complicated, and the crafts double as party bags. Boys are welcome too: offer knight shields alongside crowns.

Plan ahead

• Two weeks before: send scroll-style invitations (“You are invited to the Royal Garden Tea”) and say fancy dress is welcome.
• One week before: buy plastic teacups (real china is a risk), crowns, gems, small pots, compost and a tray of bedding plants like pansies or marigolds.
• The day before: bake or buy scones and cupcakes, cut sandwich fillings, and set out the table if the weather allows.

Set the scene

Lay one long table with a pink or white tablecloth, mismatched teacups, paper doilies and cake stands. Hang bunting and paper lanterns from trees. Roll out a red runner or a strip of red fabric from the gate to the table for the royal arrival. Set up two craft stations: one for crowns, one for the flower pots, each covered with newspaper.

Activities

Crown-making

Pre-cut crowns from card or buy foam ones. Put gems, stickers, glitter glue and pens in muffin tins so they are easy to share. Write each child’s name inside the crown before they start.

Plant a royal garden

Each child paints or stickers a small terracotta pot, then fills it with compost and plants one flower. Use washable paint and give them aprons or old t-shirts.

Pass the tiara

Like pass the parcel but with a tiara: when the music stops, whoever is holding it does a royal wave, a curtsy or a silly royal command before it moves on.

Food and drink

• Finger sandwiches with the crusts off: jam, cucumber and cream cheese, ham
• Mini scones with jam and cream
• Strawberries and grapes on skewers (“royal wands”)
• Pink lemonade or milk served from a teapot
• A cake decorated with a crown or a castle

Tips

• Fill teapots with juice rather than hot tea for safety.
• Have a gazebo or a plan B indoors; the table can move to a conservatory or living room.
• Take a photo of each child in their crown on a “throne” (a decorated garden chair) and send it to the parents afterwards.