The Queen was given a roaring reception by Christmas shoppers as she stepped out of the Royal family’s favourite hotel today.
Her Majesty was spotted leaving The Goring in London’s Belgravia on Tuesday afternoon to cries of ‘We Love You Ma’am the Queen!’ as she greeted passersby with a grin and a wave.
In previous years the Queen has chosen the establishment for her staff Christmas party as well as attending The Goring’s annual festive knees-up.
Today, the sprightly monarch looked resplendent in a vibrant magenta skirt suit, silver brooch and trusty patent handbag from Launer.
She appeared to be clutching a Christmas gift as she was waved off by David Morgan-Hewitt, affectionately known as ‘Big Dave’, managing director of the five-star luxury hotel beloved by Royals and celebrities.
Fit for a royal! The Queen appeared to be clutching a Christmas gift as she left The Goring
VIP: The Royal was waved off by David Morgan-Hewitt, managing director of one of the five-star establishment
Last year, the Queen chose the hotel as the setting for a private lunch with some of her senior servants and advisors when a drunk man had to be escorted from the building.
Buckingham Palace and The Goring declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline, but an office worker who saw her leaving said she believed the Queen had been lunching at the hotel.
Another social media user told how he had been asked to cross the road to make way for the Royal as she was escorted to her vehicle.
The privately-owned hotel, which celebrated its centenary in 2010, is a firm favourite with the royals and was given the highest honour when it was chosen by the Middleton family as their London base for the Royal wedding in 2011.
The Middletons famously booked out all of the hotel’s 71 rooms for their family and friends and held their own reception there for those not invited to the Buckingham Palace bash.
More recently, dishy staff were brought in to add an extra touch of class to the establishment.
A team of hunky footmen were drafted in to add a touch of Downton Abbey-style glamour to the the iconic hotel in 2015.
Heritage: The Goring family continues to run the hotel 107 years after it was built and prides itself on offering the ‘very highest levels of hospitality to be found anywhere in the world’
Her Majesty looked to be in excellent spirits as she left the hotel on Tuesday. The venue holds a royal warrant, a mark of recognition that tradesmen are regular suppliers of goods and services to the royal households
Since joining The Goring Hotel in 1990 the charismatic David Morgan-Hewitt(pictured escorting the Queen from the venue) has become ‘as much of an institution as the hotel itself’, the hotel website boasts
Fashion favourites: The sprightly monarch looked resplendent in a vibrant magenta skirt suit, silver brooch and trusty Launer handbag
Royal reception: Her Majesty left to cries of ‘We Love You Ma’am the Queen!’from passersby
By royal appointment: The privately-owned hotel, which celebrated its centenary in 2010, is a firm favourite with the royals
The hotel has also received a ‘Royal Warrant of appointment to HM The Queen for Hospitality Services’
Institution: The Goring first opened its doors in 1910 and describes itself as ‘impeccably English’
Seal of approval: The hotel, managed by Mr Morgan-Hewitt (pictured) was chosen by the Middleton family as their London base for the Royal wedding in 2011
Who is David Morgan-Hewitt?
Since joining The Goring Hotel in 1990 the charismatic David Morgan-Hewitt has become ‘as much of an institution as the hotel itself’, the hotel website boasts.
Mr Morgan-Hewitt joined the hotel as restaurant manager after years working in restaurants.
However then CEO George Goring needed some persuading as he was unsure about the ‘flamboyant’ Mr Morgan-Hewitt and his ‘stripey shirt’, according to an interview with The Caterer.
Friends in high places: Nigel Fulton, Emilia Fox and David Morgan-Hewitt turn on The Goring’s Fulton Umbrella tree in 2013
He worked his way up to general manager and was appointing managing director in 2005. He told the publication his and CEO Jeremy Goring’s shared vision for the hotel is ‘quintessentially English, a little bit eccentric, surprising, theatrical’.
According to The Goring website, Mr Morgan-Hewitt has ‘overseen some of the hotel’s greatest and exciting periods of transformation’ in his 26 years at hotel.
He was also on hand to help the Middleton family when they made the hotel their base ahead of the 2011 Royal Wedding.
Mr Morgan-Hewitt looks slightly larger than he did at the time – but no less stylish.
His growing stature was evident when he joined actress Emeilia Fox to turn on the Christmas tree lights at The Goring hotel in 2013.
In photographs taken yesterday the larger-than-life managing director dwarfed the diminutive Queen as he escorted her from the hotel.
Before joining the hotel he studied law and history at Durham where he graduated with a BA in 1986.
By Glen Keogh
Mr Morgan-Hewitt explains: ‘Everyone has butlers – but people with real style have footmen.
‘Footmen performed a less essential role than the cook, maid or even the butler and were part only of the grandest households.’
The hotel also received a ‘Royal Warrant of appointment to HM The Queen for Hospitality Services’ in 2013.
Jeremy Goring, whose family built the Belgravia property more than 100 years ago, said he believed it was the first ever given to a hotel by the monarch, making the event ‘all the more special for us’.
‘To be able to display Her Majesty’s coat of arms is something that the staff will be enormously proud of,’ he said.
Royal warrants are a mark of recognition that tradesmen are regular suppliers of goods and services to the royal households.
The Goring family continues to run the hotel, close to Buckingham Palace, 107 years after it was built by Jeremy’s great grandfather and prides itself on offering the ‘very highest levels of hospitality to be found anywhere in the world’.
HOW THE GORING BECAME A FAVOURITE OF THE ROYALS
The Goring first opened its doors in 1910 and describes itself as ‘impeccably English’.
Located just a few minutes from Buckingham Palace, the privately-owned hotel was given the highest honour when it was chosen by the Middleton family as their London base for the Royal wedding in 2011.
Still run by the Goring family, the hotel has 69 suites and rooms and one of the largest private gardens in London.
The hotel’s handy location has made it a firm favourite with the Royals over the years.
The coronations of George VI and Queen Elizabeth II saw the hotel filled with royalty from around the world and the Queen Mother loved the hotels Eggs Drumkilbo dish (served with lobster) that is still sold in the hotel’s Dining Room today.
Kate and Pippa Middleton with Mr Morgan-Hewitt, right, outside The Goring hotel the day before the Royal Wedding in 2011. The Middletons used the hotel as their London base