Being the Duchess of Sussex has its perks. Private aircraft, premium seats at sports events and fashion shows, entries to luxurious galas, a...
Being the Duchess of Sussex has its perks.
Private aircraft, premium seats at sports events and fashion shows, entries to luxurious galas, a personal television lifestyle series, and minor appearances in films featuring top celebrities.
And if you go to the subtly luxurious Polo Lounge at the well-known Beverly Hills Hotel inLos Angeles, as Meghan did recently during an interview for a cover story with Harpers Bazaar, then you also get a post-meal cappuccino featuring your own 'photorealistic' portrait floating like an epicurean piece of art on the creamy foam in your coffee cup.
These caffeinated masterpieces are unavailable to us ordinary people through the Polo Lounge — yet on Friday, for a short time, I mingled with Hollywood's elite as my own image shone from a cappuccino.
But as I am certainly not the Duchess of Sussex, obtaining that unique distinction turned out to be a challenging endeavor, not for the timid.
'Ah yes, Meghan Markle, I recall her,' says a well-dressed waiter in a white jacket at the Polo Lounge.
We have numerous celebrities eat here, but Meghan stands out in my memory.
She didn't request her picture to be put in a cappuccino; we do that for specific VIPs, just a limited number. It's simple to search for her online, download her image, and within a minute her face is on the drink.
Meghan looked genuinely impressed as she saw her own reflection in the foam of her cup, and she said to her lunchmates, "Oh, I recognize this photo. That's from our trip to South Africa."
Harper's Bazaar remarked: 'It's a delightful and ridiculous benefit of fame, and Meghan is amused enough to snap a picture of it.'
She is definitely entitled to feel honored. The Polo Lounge has welcomed iconic figures from Hollywood such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and Humphrey Bogart — yet none of them was ever featured, even for a short time, on a coffee cup.
It was undoubtedly not a coincidence that Meghan was placed at a noticeable table in such a high-profile location, allowing passing celebrities to show respect and offer homage.
The Art Nouveau Beverly Hills Hotel, referred to by locals as 'the Pink Palace,' is part of a collection that features London's Dorchester Hotel, and has been speculated to serve as a second home for her husband, Prince Harry.
He is believed to have spent time working and residing there when apprehended late in Los Angeles, instead of traveling the 90-mile distance north to their California residence in Montecito.
The Polo Lounge employs a unique printer—priced as high as £12,000—to imprint Meghan's mugshot onto her coffee mug with the help of edible food dyes.
A jet-ink style device creates a striking image with exceptional precision on the foam, without needing any artistic ability from the barista.
"For unique events, we can engrave 'Happy Birthday' onto a guest's cappuccino, or 'Beverly Hills Hotel,'” says another server.
But it's not something we offer to everyone. We have numerous celebrities visit our place, but only a select few get their photo on a coffee cup.
It's no surprise that I'm not one of those celebrities. I have to request a plastic lid for my drink at the local café, let alone have them create a 'selfieccino' on top of the foam.
At one point, it appeared I would not become part of the Polo Lounge's select few.
"This service isn't something we provide for guests," said Caroline Busch, the communications manager at Beverly Hills Hotel, rejecting my first wish for a liquid portrait, as it was evident I wouldn't receive one without making the request.
She was worried that agreeing to my request would lead to unrealistic hopes among those who can only dream of one day becoming part of Hollywood's elite.
She also referenced "our privacy policy for our Polo Lounge guests," as though Meghan had not approved her multi-day interview with Harpers Bazaar, and as though her photo in a cappuccino was shielded by a non-disclosure agreement—something that, given Meghan's tendencies, could very well have been the case.
But having reported from war zones, riots, earthquakes, and wildfires, I was not going to be stopped.
I sought the compassion of waiters, expecting a generous tip, who were convinced to approach the restaurant manager, who then intervened with the barista.
Similar to Meghan, I ordered the Polo Power Bowl – a vegan mix of wild rice, fried tofu, and seasonal vegetables for £34 – along with a £9 cappuccino, although Meghan's was likely free of charge.
After extensive requests, I was eventually allowed to send my photo to the Polo Lounge for it to be printed on a hot drink.
I inquired with many waiters whether they had been the lucky one who served Meghan her cappuccino portrait, but each politely responded that they didn't believe it was them.
Maybe they have encountered so many members of the royal family—previous hotel guests such as King Charles (when he was the Prince of Wales), William and Kate, Princess Margaret, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor—that they have lost track of serving Meghan? Or could it be their way of respecting customer confidentiality?
For Meghan, who has been an investor in the American coffee company Clevr Blends since 2020, and who demonstrated to the audience of her Netflix show 'With Love, Meghan' how to elevate homemade coffee with a custom coffee creamer, having her image constantly appearing on a coffee cup could have felt like a deserved acknowledgment of her contributions to espresso.
For me, it served as a reminder that fame, much like a portrait in a coffee cup, is temporary, and similar to most cups of coffee, eventually leaves only the residue.
Read more- In what way does 'With Love, Meghan' provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Duchess's high-profile culinary events?
- What caused Meghan Markle to support the innovative firm Clevr Blends, which is redefining classic lattes with health-focused components?
- What lavish feast did Meghan Markle present at her alcohol-laden Montecito brunch, leaving fans longing for an invitation to have a drink?
- What are the shining celebrity relationships exposing about Meghan's exciting new way of living?
- How did Meghan Markle transform the set of her Netflix series into a culinary haven filled with carefully prepared snacks for the team?
