Archer goes to dinner without Mary

The day had begun with Rice Krispies taken alone in a prison cell, but it ended at one of London's smartest restaurants. For Jeffrey Archer, the taste of freedom came garnished by one of London's top chefs.

The disgraced peer spent last night, his first night of liberty, dining at Anton Mosimann's Belfrey restaurant in Belgravia with his son, William.

Despite her husband's two-year jail stay, his wife Mary did not join them. She was at a champagne reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Duke of Edinburgh.

After being released from Hollesley Bay open prison in Suffolk, rewarded with a peck on the cheek by Lady Archer at their Grantchester home near Cambridge, and forced to push through a scrum of photographers to keep an appointment with his probation officer in Stockwell, Archer was in the mood for a more relaxed evening.

First there were drinks at an art gallery in Piccadilly owned by Dr Chris Beetles, one of his small band of loyal friends. Dr Beetles said: "It was great to see him again and he was on excellent form, as usual."

Then it was on to a private room at the Belfrey where the millionaire author, 63, dined on a risotto starter and lamb main course, washed down with vintage wines. Mosimann said: "We served him wonderful food - and he was very welcome here."

Archer, who was not invited to the reception for the Cambridge Foundation at Buckingham Palace with his wife, left the restaurant at 11.10pm and went back to his penthouse overlooking the Thames.