The Duchess of Cambridge spent the day wowing the crowds on a solo royal visit to the North-East. The Duke had the sombre duty of attending the funeral of his much-loved former nanny.
But the couple reunited last night for dinner at London’s new private members’ club in what turned out to be a family affair.
William and Kate were spotted after midnight leaving 5 Hertford Street, a £25 million club opened in June by impresario Robin Birley.
Also present were Kate’s sister Pippa — the first time they had been pictured together since sharing front-row seats in June in the royal box at Wimbledon — and William’s cousin Princess Eugenie. William and Kate are believed to have eaten in the downstairs nightclub, Loulou’s.
One fellow diner, Arina Sprynz, tweeted: “Just had a dinner at Loulou’s next to a beautiful couple — Prince William and Kate #royalty.”
Kate, had dished out hugs to wellwishers in Newcastle and admitted missing William as she carried out her engagements.
William, 30, had changed from the navy suit he wore to the Harlow funeral of Olga Powell into a dark blazer and suede loafers.
Kate, 30, swapped her plum winter coat for a black one, while Pippa, 29, braved the cold in a red dress and short jacket.
Mr Birley’s family were also present — half-sister Jemima Khan and half-brothers Zac and Ben Goldsmith.
Zac, the Tory MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, drove his sister home, while Ben, who became estranged from wife Kate when she took up with hip hop star Jay Electronica, left with model girlfriend Jemima Jones.
Mr Birley, whose late father Mark owned Annabel’s, created the club from an 18th-century townhouse near Shepherd Market.
It has two restaurants, three bars and a cinema. A stuffed giraffe marks the entrance and guests have described 5 Hertford Street as an example of “classy hedonism”, with critic AA Gill saying it was “like sitting in a fairy story or being swallowed by a dragon”.
Club spokesman Charlie Methven said it never commented on its guests or members. “It’s a place for members to go and have a nice time in private,” he said.
“It’s not a place which seeks publicity at all.”
