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The attendance of King Charles III and other Royal Family members at garden parties this summer will be ‘confirmed on the day’, Buckingham Palace said today.
Two of the traditional gatherings will take place in the Buckingham Palace Garden in London later this month – next Wednesday, May 8 and on Tuesday, May 21 – while a third at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh will be held on Tuesday, July 2.
Royal aides said the garden parties are traditionally referred to as ‘The Sovereign’s Garden Party’, and ‘attendance at each garden party will be confirmed on the day’. Royal aides hope that the King will attend at least one out of these three events.
Buckingham Palace will also host three further garden parties – for people in the creative industries on Wednesday, May 15; The Not Forgotten Association on Friday, May 17; and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on Thursday, May 23.
Charles began a return to royal-facing engagements this week with a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on Tuesday; the presentation of the Coronation Roll at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday; and his surprise appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show with Zara Tindall today.
July 4, 2023 — King Charles III at a Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
May 3, 2023 — King Charles III speaks to Lionel Richie at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party
His appearance and cheerful demeanour at all three events indicates the positive progress he is making after almost three months of cancer care as an outpatient.
But the King’s diary of forthcoming events will not be a full summer programme, and attendance will be announced nearer the time and ‘subject to doctors’ advice’, with ‘adaptations made where necessary to minimise risk’ to the monarch’s recovery.
Garden parties are also a favourable type of event for the King in the warmer weather given that being outside reduces the risk posed by other people that many cancer patients face.
The garden parties have been held at the palace since the 1860s when Queen Victoria began what were known as ‘breakfasts’, which actually took place in the afternoon.
Guests queue in tea tents and take their seats on nearby chairs, with about 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake consumed at each party.
More than 8,000 guests usually attend each traditional garden party.
Members of the Royal Family enter from the West Terrace and stand for the National Anthem, before circulating down lanes of people on the lawn.
Yeomen of the Guard, dressed in their red and gold ceremonial costumes, form part of the proceedings, and guests are free to stroll around the vast expanse of the gardens while a military band plays background music.
This year, the ‘Creative Industries Garden Party’ on May 15 will be a first-ever ‘celebration of the creative industries of the United Kingdom’, held with support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
May 9, 2023 — The Prince and Princess of Wales during a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
May 24, 2023 — The Duchess of Gloucester speaks with Isabelle Atkins and Rumba, her mobility assistance dog, during the Royal Kennel Club Garden Party at Buckingham Palace
May 16, 2023 — Duchess of Edinburgh attends the Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, for the charity providing entertainment for the serving wounded
Royal officials said this party will bring together ‘approximately 4,000 representatives across culture, art, heritage, film, TV, radio and fashion’.
The event is also aimed to ‘celebrate the economic value of the sector to the UK economy in helping to showcase British culture and creativity around the globe’.
The ‘Not Forgotten Association Annual Garden Party’ will then be held on May 17 with the permission of the King – by Princess Anne along with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
The organisation is a ‘tri-service charity’ which provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for ex-service men and women with disabilities or illness and serving personnel who are wounded, injured or sick.
Anne, the Princess Royal, is patron of organisation – and the event is set to bring together 2,000 beneficiaries of all ages and from all services.
Then on May 23, the King has given permission for the ‘RNLI 200th Anniversary Garden Party’ to be held by Anne and her husband again, along with the Duke of Kent ‘in celebration of the charity’s milestone anniversary’.
The palace said the RNLI had saved 146,277 lives since being set up on March 4, 1824 – equating to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.
The Duke of Kent has been RNLI president since March 25, 1969, while Vice Admiral Sir Timothy is its vice president.
TODAY – King Charles III and Zara Tindall at day three of the Royal Windsor Horse Show
WEDNESDAY – Charles and Camilla are shown the Coronation Roll at Buckingham Palace
TUESDAY – Charles and Camilla visit UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on Tuesday
The party is expected bring together 2,500 of the charity’s long-serving volunteers, staff and their families as well as featuring an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.
Last year, Charles staged three coronation garden parties at royal palaces in celebration of his and Camilla’s crowning.
Thousands of guests gathered on the lawns of Buckingham Palace on May 3 last year, three days before the historic ceremony in Westminster Abbey, and again on May 9 – three days after the big day.
The latter was hosted by Prince William on behalf of the King, with other royals in attendance including Kate, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Another garden party was hosted at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on July 4 last year during Holyrood Week.
The garden parties – a staple part of the traditional royal calendar – will be the first of the King’s reign.
Many of the 500 Coronation Champions, recognised for their volunteering by the Royal Voluntary Service of which Camilla is patron, were invited to the garden parties, as well as one of the official coronation festivities.
The King also gave permission for two additional garden parties in 2023.
The Duchess of Edinburgh hosted The Not Forgotten Association annual garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 16 last year.
And on May 24 last year, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester hosted The Royal Kennel Club garden party to mark the charity’s 150th anniversary.
The Royal Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training and Elizabeth II, known for her love of dogs especially corgis, was patron for 70 years.
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