Businessmen, socialites raise a toast to Queen of England

At the Taj Mahal hotel ballroom on Thursday, an illustrious gathering of industrialists, businessmen, international ambassadors, writers and socialites raised a toast to the health of Queen Elizabeth II and Indian president Pratibha Patil.

At the Taj Mahal hotel ballroom on Thursday, an illustrious gathering of industrialists, businessmen, international ambassadors, writers and socialites raised a toast to the health of Queen Elizabeth II and Indian president Pratibha Patil.

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The event, hosted by the British Council of Mumbai, was a celebration of the Queen’s 85th birthday, which was on April 21. The party coincided with the eve of the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.

“We celebrate the Queen’s birthday in all countries but India is special for us because it is part of the Commonwealth and we have many strong ties with this country,” said Peter Beckingham, the British deputy high commissioner of western India, who thanked the Tata group of companies for their industrial ties with England.

The party’s guest list included potential Tata heir Noel Tata, writers Gerson da Cunha, Shobhaa De and Anil Dharker, besides a host of international dignitaries such as Orna Sagiv, the Israel consul general.

Celebration events for the Queen’s birthday can be held anytime between April and June. “We thought it would be wonderful to have this party on the eve of the royal wedding,” said Beckingham.

“Events like these are also great ways to broaden business relations between two countries,” said Vijay Kalantri, president, All India Association of Industries, who was present at the party.