The royal family’s go-to event planner has revealed the late Queen was shocked by the vodka luge at Prince William’s 21st birthday party.
The future King celebrated his milestone birthday with an ‘out of Africa’ party at Windsor Castle in 2003.
Musicians were flown in from Botswana, with costumes and celebrity guests adorning the glamourous soiree.
But the biggest talking point of the evening was at elephant-themed vodka luge which left the birthday boy’s grandmother in shock.
Johnny Roxburgh, 73, revealed the Queen asked him what the decoration was.
The future King celebrated his milestone birthday with an ‘out of Africa’ party at Windsor Castle in 2003. Pictured in 2004
‘I’ve done parties that have costs tens of millions of pounds,’ he explained on Channel 5’s Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which airs tonight.
‘One minute we’re in Shanghai, the next we’re in Paris or in Russia. I did dinner with Putin. That was kind of extraordinary’.
Speaking about the royals he went on: ‘I’ve done weddings. I’ve buried them. I’ve done birthday parties.
‘I remember when it was William’s 21st was a jungle theme.
‘And we have an enormous vodka luge, which was made in the shape of an elephant’s head.’
Ahead of the party, the Queen appeared while someone was pouring vodka into the elephant’s head.
The Queen (pictured in 2019) was shocked by the vodka luge at Prince William’s party
Mr Roxburgh, a former Royal Warrant holder, has been responsible for organising events for hundreds at Buckingham Palace, Holyrood Palace and Highgrove
‘And she looked at me and said, “What is that?”. And I said, “Ma’am, it’s a vodka luge”.
‘I could have said it was it was a tin of Brasso, because she just looked at me confused and said “hmmm”.’
Mr Roxburgh also revealed how he would often plan parties for Her Majesty – and her keen eye for detail at a soiree.
‘We did dinner for 600 in the grounds of Balmoral,’ he explained.
‘And the Queen was always asking for photographs to be sent to her so she could see what we were building in the grounds of her castle.
Speaking previously to Tatler, Mr Roxburgh said the vodka luge was specially commissioned in the shape of a giant elephant head to keep guests entertained throughout the night.
Paying close attention to detail, the royal arranged to have the Shakarimba band flown in from Botswana to provide entertainment
King Constantine & Queen Anne Marie Of Greece were among the well-heeled guests at William’s birthday
The Queen, then Camilla Parker-Bowles, was also in attendance
Rowan Atkinson was another guest at the celebrity soiree
Tara Palmer Tomkinson also attended the party -with an oversized headpiece
Mr Roxburgh, a former Royal Warrant holder, has been responsible for organising events for hundreds at Buckingham Palace, Holyrood Palace and Highgrove.
He described the birthday boy, then a student at St Andrew’s, as ‘charming beyond belief’ and ‘wonderful to work with’.
He continued: ‘We created an African jungle at Windsor Castle with full-size elephants made from palm husk, table centres that would shame a Lion King headdress, a giant ice vodka luge in the shape of an elephant’s head (which The Queen loved). I realised then that our future king is a very cool young man.’
Prince William chose the theme for his party to reflect his close ties with several African nations and his charity work on the continent.
The 300 guests, including friends, families and stars like Rowan Atkinson, were asked to don their best fancy dress for the evening.
Paying close attention to detail, the royal arranged to have the Shakarimba band flown in from Botswana to provide entertainment.
The Royal Borough: Kensington & Chelsea airs tonight at 9pm, Channel 5.