The Queen's Garden Parties
Queen Elizabeth has a lot of formal functions every year. She visits other countries, meets a lot of important people and she also organises a lot of formal events in her residences in the UK. But the Garden Party is a relaxed and informal event. There are four garden parties every year: one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and three at Buckingham Palace in London.
There are approximately 8000 people at a Garden Party. All the guests wear very elegant clothes, often with hats. The gates to Buckingham palace open at 3 p.m. but a lot of people arrive very early.
the guests can look at the beautiful gardens and they can listen to two bands. you can't usually see this part of Buckingham Palace.
the queen, Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family arrive at 4 p.m. and the band plays the National Anthem. The queen walks around the garden and speaks to a lot of people, but she can't speak to all 8000 guests! At 6 p.m. the Queen and Anthem agaim.
At a typical Garden Party, people drink about 27000 cups of tea and eat more than 20000 sandwiches and 20000 slices of cake!!
Can you go to a Garden Paty? Sorry, you have to receive an invitation from the lord Chamberlain!