King Charles III presided over a sun-drenched Buckingham Palace Garden Party on Wednesday, marking his first major hosting duty of the season. However, the glittering occasion was tinged with notable absences from within his own family.
Despite hundreds of guests from all walks of life gathering on the pristine lawns, the King's sister, the Princess Royal, and his younger brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, were conspicuously missing from the royal lineup. Their absence did not go unnoticed by royal watchers.
Princess Anne, renowned as one of the hardest-working royals, was undertaking official duties elsewhere. Meanwhile, Prince Edward and his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh, were also absent, though the specific reasons were not immediately disclosed by the Palace.
The event saw other senior royals step up to support the monarch. The Queen, along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, were all in attendance, mingling with guests and performing the traditional walkabouts.
This garden party, one of three to be held this year, is a centuries-old tradition where the monarch recognises and celebrates public service. An estimated 8,000 attendees are expected to be invited across all events, enjoying tea and sandwiches in the stunning 39-acre garden.
The absence of such key figures so soon after the King's return to public-facing duties following his cancer treatment will undoubtedly fuel further discussion about the pressures on the modern, slimmed-down monarchy.
