TL;DR
Three Buckingham Palace garden parties and one Holyroodhouse garden party are held each year. Invitations go through nominating organisations such as charities, the armed forces and the diplomatic corps. Around 8,000 people attend each garden party.
Three Buckingham Palace garden parties and one Holyroodhouse garden party are held each year, with around 8,000 people attending each. Invitations are issued through nominating organisations such as charities, the armed forces, the civil service and the diplomatic corps, and dress is formal day dress or military uniform.
How the garden parties are organised
Each garden party runs across an afternoon in the grounds of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Guests arrive in advance, with the royal procession through the lawns marking the formal opening of the event.
The Royal Household co-ordinates the parties through the Master of the Household's office. The format includes tea, sandwiches, scones and pastries served from refreshment tents, and the regimental bands of the Foot Guards perform throughout.
How invitations are issued
Most guests are nominated by an institution. Charities, the civil service, the armed forces, local government and the diplomatic corps all hold quotas of invitations to allocate among their staff, volunteers and supporters.
Members of the public cannot apply directly. People hoping to attend usually find that long-standing volunteering or work in a nominating institution is the route. Invitations arrive in the post several weeks before the party.
Dress code and protocol
Day dress is the standard requirement. Men typically wear a morning coat or lounge suit, women wear day dress with a hat or fascinator. Military uniform and national dress are also acceptable.
Guests are presented to the King and senior royals during the procession through the lawns. Formal presentations are arranged for specific guests rather than every attendee, with most simply observing the royal party as they move through the grounds.
The King's recent garden parties
King Charles has continued the tradition of hosting garden parties at Buckingham Palace and Holyroodhouse during the late spring and early summer. The garden parties date back to the 1860s under Queen Victoria, with the modern format established under King George VI.
Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have all hosted garden parties in recent years on behalf of the monarch.
What guests should know
Photographs from inside the party are not normally permitted, except by accredited press. Personal phones are allowed but guests are asked to be discreet. Children attending must be over a certain age and accompanied.
Attendees should arrive at the time stated on the invitation and bring formal identification. Standard security checks apply on entry, and umbrellas, large bags and certain items are not permitted in the grounds.
Key facts
- Around 8,000 guests at each garden party.
- Three at Buckingham Palace and one at Holyroodhouse each year.
- Invitations issued by nominating institutions.
- Day dress, morning coat or military uniform required.
- Tradition dates back to Queen Victoria.
FAQ
How do I get invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party?
Invitations are issued by nominating institutions such as charities, the armed forces, the diplomatic corps and local government. Long-standing volunteering or work in a nominating institution is the usual route. Members of the public cannot apply directly.
What should I wear?
Day dress is the standard. Men typically wear a morning coat or lounge suit, women wear day dress with a hat or fascinator. Military uniform and national dress are also acceptable.
Will I meet the King?
Formal presentations are arranged for specific guests rather than every attendee. Most guests observe the royal party as they move through the grounds during the procession through the lawns.
Can I take photographs?
Photographs from inside the party are not normally permitted, except by accredited press. Personal phones are allowed but guests are asked to be discreet.
