By royal biographer Emily Andrews
THE ROYAL SUMMER SEASON HAS STARTED IN EARNEST
Last month’s Buckingham Palace garden parties fired the starting gun on the traditional summer season.Normally the monarch hosts three in London and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland.
They herald a busy royal events season, which includes the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot.
The King and Queen hosted the first garden party in the grounds of the palace – and also attended the Chelsea Flower Show.
Charles looked on good form at both – he spent over an hour chatting to guests and was seen laughing and joking with many.
Historically, garden parties took the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes, and have evolved into a way of recognising public service.
In total more than 30,000 people (who are nominated by sponsors including Lord-Lieutenants, government departments, charities, the military and faith groups) attend every year.
They follow a time-honoured schedule with the tea tents offering cups of tea, apple juice, finger sandwiches and beautiful miniature cakes (but no coffee or alcohol!).
Guests file in from 3pm before the royal party arrives at 4pm, circulating through distinct ‘lanes’ under the guidance of gentleman ushers in order to meet as many members of the public as possible.
Once the royals have finished chatting to the guests on the lawn, they arrive at the Royal Tea Tent so they can meet more people and have a cuppa themselves.
Charles and Camilla hosted the first two garden parties (including one where Maya Jama asked a slightly baffled King if he watched Love Island!) and Prince William hosted the third.
Clearly the Princess of Wales, still out of public life due to her cancer treatment, was due to be there as guests from a number of her patronages and military affiliations had been invited.
But William invited his cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall (and her husband Mike) to join him and bolster the royal roster.
They certainly
