Page 13 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 122 - June 2024 - PDF Format

The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and The King's Body Guard of the
Yeomen of the Guard formed His Majesty’s Body Guard.

The individual members of the Royal Family then moved along the lines or groups of
people being presented. The Princess Royal’s invitees formed a line next to us whilst
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester preferred small groups.

The presentation over, we headed for the tea tents. As you can image with thousands
attending it had to be very well organised. We patiently waited for our delicate
sandwiches, crusts removed of course, dainty desserts and tea, coffee or soft drinks.

We continued to mingle with the other guests enjoying the gardens and listening to the
music played by the British Army Band Tidworth and the Band of the Royal Air Force
Regiment. All the Royal Party left by 5.30. The playing of the National Anthem at 6
o’clock was the signal for us to depart. Clearly several other travellers on the Megabus
had been at the same event. There was much animated chatter, several kept their
hats or fascinators on hoping to prolong the excitement of the day.

For us it felt very appropriate to be attending an event which first took place on 22
June 1868, after which Queen Victoria wrote in her journal ‘The afternoon splendid &
not too hot’. The Gloucestershire County History Trust carries out research and other
work in connection with the preparation of the Victoria County History of England
relating to the historic county of Gloucestershire and the city of Bristol. Eleven of the
thirty-two volumes have been produced so far, with another three in progress,
Cirencester, Cheltenham and Chipping Sodbury, the first of which is due to be
published next year. The Victoria County History was established in 1899 and
dedicated to Queen Victoria. Its aim is to write the history of every parish, town and
township providing an encyclopaedic record of England’s places and people from
earliest times to the present day.

It had been a very long, warm day, but to echo Victoria’s description a ‘splendid’ one
which will remain forever in our memories.

Sue Brown, PNP-UK