When one thinks of the English summer, one’s mind might directly go to music festivals, picnics in the park, and backyard cricket.
Of course, the list goes on – but there is one other staple on the royal summer calendar that you can bet they think of first when it comes to those glorious warmer days.
Oh yes, the Queen’s annual garden parties, held at Buckingham Palace are a constant, glorious fixture in the lives of Britain’s most regal family – and they’re not alone.
As May rolls around each year, people across the UK have the chance to see the royals like never before, when a random ballot of hopeful recipients are picked and invited along to dine with the elite.
The event is no small feat either. Held several times during the warmer British months annually, it sees thousands of guests fill out the fields in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
It’s a luck of the drawer as to which royals attend the event on the day – one day you might get a laugh with Duchess Camilla and Prince Charles, the next, you’ll be face-to-face with Prince William and Duchess Catherine.
As for the hospitality, these royals don’t do things by halves.
In true, quintessential British form, each party includes 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake. Just sign us up already…
Buckingham Palace’s annual garden parties off guests the ultimate royal spectacle.
(Getty)And there is one other thing that we can’t help but revel in each time the event rolls around – the fashion.
As with any royal event, we can expect to be thrilled with a plethora of oh-so-classy outfits as the sun shines and the glad rags are donned.
And while this year’s array of Garden Parties have been heartbreakingly cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s no reason why we can’t take a little stroll down memory lane to lament the very best in garden party fashion over the years.
Keep scrolling for a sophisticated summer style spectacle.
1981
Back in the day when the parties were big and the sleeves were bigger, Princess Diana’s very first garden party, shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles was announced, made a big impression – not least because of her standout ensemble.
1985
In 1985, Princess Anne donned her whites for the Queen’s special garden event, opting for a chic puff-sleeved style. A synonymous silhouette of the times, to say the least.
1991
Our colour blocking queen, Princess Diana went for a bright and bold spectrum as she attended the annual event in 1991.
1993
Ever the summer dream, she later rocked a bright yellow look in 1993. Interestingly, 20 years later we’d see Kate nail a very similar palette. Keep scrolling to see…
2008
Of course, we’d expect the guest of honour to stand out above anyone else. In 2008, the Queen herself was glowing in this white and red number.
2012
Barely a year after becoming an official member of the royal family, Kate was off to a rip roaring start at a 2012 garden party in this heavenly pink dress designed by Kiwi talent Emilia Wickstead.
2012
The newlywed Duchess was glowing for the classy garden soiree.
2013
In 2013, Kate, who was pregnant with Prince George at the time, glowed in a buttercup yellow tweed dress, again by Emilia Wickstead. We’re sensing a pattern here…
2018
Princess Eugenie donned the trend of the times at a 2018 garden party: The humble puff sleeve – with a twist.
2018 2
Newly married and ready for some right royal action, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan beamed as they arrived at the Queen’s garden party in 2018. Already, Meghan had cemented herself as a royal fashion icon.
2018 1
You certainly couldn’t fault her flawlessly angled hat and blush dress, designed by London-based label GOAT.
Meghan Markle Makes First Appearance As Royal Duchess
2018
Prince William’s three-piece suit, top hat and regal brolly made for the ultimate combo in 2018.
2019
In 2019, Duchess Catherine and Prince William made an iconic joint appearance, with the royal mum wearing a chic pink ensemble by Alexander McQueen complete with a classic Juliette Botterill hat.
2019 2
To finish it off, Kate added a gorgeous pair of pearl earrings, which once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
