How to plan an afternoon tea-themed baby shower

With the newest member of the royal family set to arrive any day now, the party-planning spotlight has been stolen away from that other little-known royal event of the summer (ahem, Harry and Meghan), and onto a royal baby shower.

Although we aren’t sure exactly what Kate's sister and friends organised for her shower (our invite got lost in the post...), we imagine it involved some crustless cucumber sandwiches, perfectly decorated cakes and some fragrant teas served in the finest china. What better theme to suggest for your own party - a proper high tea-themed baby shower!  

We’ve compiled a few perfectly formed savoury nibbles, brilliant bakes and terrific table setting ideas so you can create a high tea-themed party that even The Queen would be happy with.

The food

Savoury bites

No high tea is complete without dainty miniature sandwiches. Our open egg mayo sandwiches layered with radishes, carrot and cress make a classically British option that adds a pop of colour and some refreshing texture to your tea spread.

Mini quiches are elegant, easy to make and look great piled up on a tiered cake stand. We’ve kept things simple with these cheesy treats made with mature British Cheddar and fresh thyme.

Sweet treats

What would an afternoon tea be without some beautiful miniature sweet treats? Baking from scratch is a great way to really personalise the party — especially if a few of you are all chipping in with the effort to surprise the mum-to-be.

Our adorable macarons make the perfect delicious, chewy afternoon tea treat. What’s more, you can colour them with either baby pink or blue food dye to mirror the gender of the baby, or half-and-half of both colours if it’s a surprise!

You don’t get an afternoon tea treat more classic than the humble Victoria sponge. Sweet jam and clouds of cream sandwiched between two moist, fluffy sponges equals sheer cake perfection. In our take on the British classic, we’ve used sumptuous vanilla-spiked mascarpone as the filling for a modern take that ups the wow-factor.

But you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to create an amazing afternoon tea. Our cream tea selection contains profiteroles, fruit scones and cream-laden doughnuts, perfect for sharing — just add a pot of tea and you’re good to go. 

The drinks

Since the mum-to-be won't be joining in with numerous rounds of fizz, check how she feels about having alcohol at the party beforehand. Either way — soft drinks can look and taste luxurious too. Our ginger lemonade is refreshing and fruity with a warming kick from the fresh ginger. And our minty mock-jito is sure to go down a treat.

Alternatively, keep things simple with a lovely cup of English breakfast tea. Our Extra Special Loose Leaf Tea is fragrant, smooth and robust, perfect with a splash of milk and a slice of cake.

The table

Dress your table for the special occasion with a crisp tablecloth, fresh flowers and gorgeous matching tableware.

Pastel paper napkins are a great way to inject some colour to your table while keeping things sophisticated. Our adorable flower-printed side plates are perfect for serving up bite-sized morsels while keeping to the dainty theme, and this collapsible cake stand is great for dressing the table on a budget.

No matter what refreshments you’re serving, keep things cute and classy with these gorgeous iridescent wine glasses for wine and fizz, these sweet, retro milk bottles for soft drinks and mocktails, and this fun and patriotic tea pot for the ultimate royal touch.

Feeling inspired to throw a royal bash for the little prince or princess arriving into your life? Make sure to stock up on everything you need at Asda or pop into your local store.