The lovely thrumming of harpist Luke Brechtelsbauer, decorations from the collection of Haydee Mackey’s family, a gracious tea with requisite amenities, and the reading of a special letter fused for the formal and festive fun of the English-Speaking Union, New Orleans Branch. As it has been for years, the ESU Christmas Tea took place in the Windsor Court Hotel. Branch president Bruce Gordon (with Melissa) read a letter from James Dawson, Head of Royal Correspondence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (of Great Britain) that recalled the royal twosome’s visit to New Orleans on Nov. 4, 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina. The missive was a response to a thank-you letter sent by Gordon, on Aug. 29, 2025, concerning the historic visit and a reiteration of “the unbreakable bond between the peoples of the United Kingdom and the United States.” Yet another agenda item was the introduction of board members, including newly-dubbed Monique Clark of Thibodaux, who is working with the ESU National Shakespeare Competition Committee to be held on Sun., March 8, 2026, on the Tulane campus for Louisiana students. Two years ago, the national winner was Malachi White of the New Orleans Branch. Additional board members in attendance were Lenny Caruso, Dr. Rennie Culver, Benjamin Morrison, Haydee Mackey (with Kevin), Mimi Schlesinger, Preston Valois, and Benjamin Karp, author of the political thriller, “The Leviathan Conspiracy.” They shared tea talk with JP and Dr. Erin O’Sullivan Fleming, Dr. Julian Wheatley and wife Marjorie Nolan-Wheatley, Kathy Singleton, Julie and David Gooch, sisters-in-law Alexandra Stafford and Simone Rathle, and Katherine de Montluzin with Dallasites Jewel and Robert Williams. – Nell Nolan, Times Picayune – https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/nell-nolan-sociedad-espanola-esu-christmas-tea-patio-planters-saint-lazarus-society/article_54ef88fb-7c0e-4812-94ae-a4723e6216f4.html