Page 12 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 122 - June 2024 - PDF Format

Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

Undoubtedly for me one of the highlights of 2024 will be attending a garden party at
Buckingham Palace.

On a gloriously sunny day in early May Sue Parsons and I set off to catch the Megabus
in Oxford for London; it happened to be the day of a train strike but that was not going
to stop us. We were invited as trustees of Gloucestershire County History Trust CIO.
The Duke of Gloucester, who is a patron of the charity, had arranged for four people
to be invited to the event. Sir Nicholas and Lady Mander joined us at the Palace.

Having made our way through the London traffic, we arrived at Buckingham Palace
Road. It quickly became apparent that we were not the only people heading for the
Palace that day. Not surprising when you realise that about four thousand people
attended the event which was to celebrate the United Kingdom’s culture, art, heritage,
film, TV, radio, fashion and creative industries.

On arrival our first thought was to get something to eat. We
found a small café in Sir Simon Milton Square. Sitting
having lunch we soon noticed that there was a steady
stream of women heading for the cloakroom clutching hats
or fascinators, all emerging dressed in their Sunday best
ready for a visit to the Palace. People watching is great fun!

Having gone through security, we all massed outside the
familiar gates in front of the Palace. At about 3 o’clock they
there opened and we all filed in past the sentries and on
round to the impressive private grounds. Sue and I made
our way to the bottom of the steps in the garden as
instructed in the letter from The Duke and Duchess of
Gloucester’s private office. If appropriate attendees were
PNP Sue Brown at the Buckingham
Palace Garden Party on 8 May 2024 gathered together according to which member of the Royal
Family they were going to be presented to. For Sir Nicholas
and Lady Mander, Sue and myself that was The Duke of Gloucester. There was rather
a feeling of déjà vu because we had been presented to him at a fundraising event on
the previous Friday.

Prompt at 4 o’clock the band stuck up ‘God
Save the King’ and the Royal Party
appeared at the top of the garden steps. We
were especially fortunate in that King
Charles III attended in person having only
recently returned to public engagements
following his cancer diagnosis and
subsequent ongoing treatment. The Queen
was by his side and they were joined by The
Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of
Edinburgh and The Duke and Duchess of
Gloucester.