The Prince and Princess of Wales led the royal family in welcoming community heroes as they hosted a Buckingham Palace garden party this afternoon. William and Kate were accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Zara Tindall, who is not a working royal but has assisted at garden parties with her cousin William for several years. Notably absent were Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who had attended previous events with the Waleses.
Thousands of Guests Honoured
Around 8,000 guests were invited to the event, many of whom were connected to William and Kate's patronages, military affiliations, and passion projects. At 4pm sharp, the royal group emerged on the steps overlooking the palace gardens, where they stood and listened to the national anthem. Kate wore a new Self Portrait dress, a vintage hat, a bracelet that belonged to the late Princess Diana, and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen.
Emotional Encounters
As the royals began mingling, they greeted Rhian Mannings, who had met William last year. During their emotional conversation, William was moved to tears as he heard how she lost her young son to a hidden illness, with her husband taking his own life days later. Mannings went on to establish the 2wish charity, which supports bereaved families. The couple also met Sam Stables, founder of We Are Farming Minds, an organisation working to break down the stigma surrounding mental health in the farming community. Stables had previously met William and Kate during their visit to his farm in Herefordshire in 2023.
Young Achievers Honoured
Other guests included young Air Cadets Rowan, Anna, and Harry, who became the youngest trio to tackle the 3,000-mile "World's Toughest Row" in January. The garden party tradition dates back to the 1860s, when Queen Victoria began what were known as "breakfasts," though they were held in the afternoon.
Palace Party Traditions
Guests queue in tea tents and take seats on nearby chairs, with approximately 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches, and 20,000 slices of cake consumed at each party. Yeomen of the Guard, dressed in their red and gold ceremonial costumes, form part of the proceedings, and attendees are free to stroll around the vast gardens while a military band plays background music.
