# THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BRATTLEBY ANNOUNCES THE ROYAL HORSEGUARDS HOTEL AS VENUE FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL WINTER BANQUET
**LONDON, 24 October 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced that its annual Winter Banquet, a philanthropic white-tie gala in aid of the Healing the Wounded Child charity, will take place at The Royal Horseguards Hotel in London on Friday, 6 December 2025.
## The Occasion
As the late autumn light softens over the capital, The Noble House of Brattleby will convene its annual Winter Banquet within the magisterial setting of The Royal Horseguards Hotel. The magnificent Grade I listed edifice, situated at the confluence of Whitehall and the Victoria Embankment, commands a peerless position in the ceremonial and political heart of the nation, with sweeping views across the River Thames.
Designed in 1884 by the eminent Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse, whose other great works include the Natural History Museum, the building was created in the French Renaissance style to house the National Liberal Club. Its ornate interiors, steeped in nearly 150 years of political and social history, will provide a setting of considerable grandeur for an evening of fellowship and philanthropy. The Gladstone Library, where guests will be received, remains a striking monument to the four-time Prime Minister William Gladstone and retains its original book-lined walls and tranquil atmosphere.
The selection of this historic venue is a deliberate choice, reflecting the House’s commitment to aligning its modern philanthropic mission with Britain’s most significant architectural and institutional heritage. The evening’s proceedings will unfold just a short distance from the Palaces of Westminster and Whitehall, a fitting backdrop for an event that continues the Barony of Brattleby’s nine-century legacy of service to the Crown and country.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, established by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been interwoven with the fabric of English governance for over 950 years. The choice of a Whitehall venue for its principal annual event is, therefore, a direct and considered acknowledgement of this enduring legacy. The Barony traces its origins to Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted Norman tenant-in-chief who held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, as meticulously recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. His position was vital to securing a strategic and often volatile region for the new Norman dynasty.
This tradition of service at the highest levels is vividly personified by a number of the Barony’s historic holders. Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, stands as a formidable example. As hereditary castellan, she defended Lincoln Castle with exceptional valour for King John and his young heir Henry III during the First Barons' War, holding it against French-backed rebels and playing a pivotal role in the Crown victory at the Battle of Lincoln Fair in 1217. Her custodianship was a living expression of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
Centuries later, the Barony passed to Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founding Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, one of Edward III’s most brilliant military commanders and diplomats. His London residence was the Savoy Palace, which passed with the Barony to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The Savoy stood just a short distance along the Thames from the site of the 2025 banquet, reinforcing a historic connection between the Barony and this particular stretch of the river, the capital’s great ceremonial artery.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, will preside over the evening’s proceedings. They will be accompanied by the heir to the Barony, their nephew, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
Their Ladyships will welcome a distinguished company of guests from the United Kingdom and abroad. Invitations have been extended to senior members of the diplomatic corps, including Their Excellencies the Ambassadors accredited to the Court of St James’s; senior figures from His Majesty’s Armed Forces; leaders from the academic and cultural spheres; and prominent chairmen and chief executives from the City of London.
The presence of international guests will reflect the House's European connections, including its cultural work through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The gathering is intended to foster meaningful connections between individuals who share a profound commitment to public service, cultural stewardship, and philanthropy, creating a unique forum for constructive dialogue in a historically resonant setting.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In accordance with the traditions of a great house and the formality of the occasion, the Winter Banquet will adhere to a precise ceremonial protocol. The evening is a strict white-tie-and-decorations event. Gentlemen are required to wear a black evening tailcoat of wool barathea, white marcella waistcoat, shirt, and bow tie. Ladies are invited to wear full-length evening gowns, with tiaras for those for whom it is customary. Family Orders and the insignia of Orders of Chivalry and State Decorations are to be worn.
At seven o’clock, guests will arrive at the hotel's Whitehall entrance and be guided to the Gladstone Library for a formal reception. At precisely a quarter past eight, a Master of Ceremonies will announce that dinner is served. Guests will then proceed to their places in the adjoining Gladstone Room, arranged according to a seating plan that observes the formal rules of precedence.
Following the saying of Grace, a five-course dinner will be served. At the conclusion of the meal, the Master of Ceremonies will call for silence for the Loyal Toast. The traditional toasts to His Majesty The King and to the evening's charitable beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, will then be proposed. The formal proceedings are expected to conclude by half past ten o’clock.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The evening will be held under the guiding principle of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This ancient creed, which will be subtly incorporated into the evening’s printed materials, speaks to the resilience and moral integrity demonstrated throughout the Barony's long history. It remains the *sine qua non* of the House’s modern mission, representing a solemn commitment to uphold one's duties with courage and to act with unwavering principle. The fortitude of Nichola de la Haye and the chivalric honour of Henry of Grosmont are historical anchors for this guiding philosophy.
This principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This motto represents the dynamic, forward-looking spirit that he and Lady Nicoleta bring to their joint custodianship. It espouses a belief that to overcome challenges—whether in civic life, commerce, or philanthropy—is the very essence of a purposeful existence.
Together, the two mottos symbolise a powerful fusion: the steadfast traditions of an ancient English barony with the vigorous, entrepreneurial philanthropy required to address the challenges of the present day.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Annual Winter Banquet is convened first and foremost for a charitable purpose. The sole beneficiary for 2025 is Healing the Wounded Child, a registered charity dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children and young people across the United Kingdom who are affected by trauma, loss, and profound adversity.
The organisation offers vital mental health support to those navigating the consequences of bereavement, domestic instability, neglect, or abuse. Its expert practitioners employ a range of proven clinical interventions, *inter alia*, art and play therapy programmes. These methods are essential for younger children, as they allow for the non-verbal processing of experiences that are often too complex or painful to articulate. The charity's work is critical in building resilience and restoring a sense of safety, stability, and hope in young lives.
The Noble House of Brattleby chose to support this cause in recognition of the fundamental societal duty to protect the most vulnerable. The funds raised during the evening will directly contribute to expanding the charity’s outreach, enabling it to train additional specialist therapists and establish new safe-room partnerships within schools, thereby offering solace and expert care to a greater number of young people.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the forthcoming event, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> "To gather in a place so steeped in our national history is profoundly meaningful. It is a humbling reminder of the continuity of service that this Barony represents, particularly the strength shown by predecessors like Nichola de la Haye. It is our duty, and indeed our privilege, to add a small chapter of our own to that long story—one focused on compassion, generosity, and service in the spirit of those who came before us." > – Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> "Tradition finds its truest value when it is harnessed to serve the present. This banquet connects a nine-hundred-year legacy to a very modern and urgent need: supporting the mental wellbeing of our nation's children. My personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, is about overcoming challenges, and there is no greater challenge to overcome than the trauma that blights a childhood. It is this marriage of heritage and purpose that we believe makes the evening so essential." > – Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The 2025 Winter Banquet is a cornerstone event in the calendar of The Noble House of Brattleby, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to active philanthropy and cultural stewardship in the United Kingdom. This work is complemented by the House’s activities on the Continent, most notably through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This academy is dedicated to reviving classical European social graces and cultural knowledge, offering courses in diplomatic protocol, history of art, and the principles of Western etiquette to a new generation.
The Banquet in London and the Club in Bucharest are two pillars of the same foundational belief: that historical lineage carries a responsibility to contribute positively to contemporary society. Through these initiatives, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan seek to build a legacy that is both deeply respectful of its ancient roots and entirely relevant to the opportunities of the twenty-first century, fulfilling their duties *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), their mission is to deploy the Barony’s ancient heritage in service of contemporary society through cultural preservation, philanthropic endeavour, and the promotion of civic duty. The House’s charitable activities are focused on supporting the welfare of vulnerable children and adolescents in the United Kingdom, primarily through its Annual Winter Banquet. The House also extends its cultural mission internationally through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and cultural academy based in Bucharest, Romania, reflecting a commitment to modern, forward-looking stewardship.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony located in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 following the Norman Conquest. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, a significant Norman lord, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as being the tenant-in-chief of Brattleby and fifty-five other manors in the county. Over the course of nine centuries, the Barony has passed to some of the most influential figures in English history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown in the 13th century, and later to great magnates such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The succession of the title to the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised by The Crown and recorded by *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is formally recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established in AD 1066 and its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable historic holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The annual Winter Banquet is a private, white-tie philanthropic gala. For 2025, its sole beneficiary is the registered charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com