All that jazz
The Czech and Swedish Embassies celebrated the transfer of the EU presidency in perfect harmony. The Czechs ended their tour of duty with a sun-soaked beer garden party after which the two embassies joined forces with the City of London Festival to host a presidency jazz party on board the aptly-named HMS President. Czech counsellor Pavla Skachova paid a tribute to the late Czech Ambassador Jan Winkler, after which her Swedish counterpart Per Augustsson toasted the start of the Swedish presidency with Czech beer, a Swedish-Czech menu (prepared by a French chef ) and a cake-cutting ceremony in un-English hot weather. Guests then settled down to a performance by the outstanding young Swedish jazz trio Music Music Music, followed by renowned jazz pianists Bobo Stenson (Sweden) and Emil Viklicky (Czech Republic).

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS

Music Music Music bassist Josef Kallerdahl

Czech jazz pianist Emil Viklicky

The Pfimpfl family

Guests cooled down with a pint of Czech beer