2008 saw a packed Garden Party programme with four special events held at Buckingham Palace.
This year the Centenary of the British Red Cross’s Royal Charter, the Territorial Army, the ‘Not Forgotten’ Association and the Lambeth Conference were all honoured with their own Garden Parties.
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The Prince of Wales meets guests at the British Red Cross Garden Party
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The British Red Cross party was hosted by its President, The Prince of Wales, and The Duchess of Cornwall.
The Prince was given the keys to a Land Rover, one of 60 being donated to the charity at the event.
The ‘Not Forgotten’ Association were also celebrated with their annual Garden Party.
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The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh meet guests from all walks of life in the gardens at Buckingham Palace
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The association helps improve the quality of life of injured ex-servicemen and women through organising outings, holidays and events for them. In addition to the Garden Party, The Queen also gives her permission for the organisation to hold a Christmas Party in St James’s Palace.
This year’s event was attended by The Princess Royal, the Patron of the Association, as well as some other well-know faces which are involved with the charity, including Rolf Harris and Kate Adie.
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The Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams at the Lambeth Conference Garden Party
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The Territorial Army Garden Party marked the 100th Anniversary of its founding and was a ‘thank-you’ to employers who have supported and encouraged the TA work undertaken by their staff over the years.
The final ‘special’ Garden Party marked this years Lambeth Conference. The conference takes place every ten years and provides a forum for over 500 bishops to meet for worship, study and conversation, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The bishops were hosted by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.
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The Earl of Wessex, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive on the North Terrace for a Garden Party
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Approximately 8,000 guests are invited to each standard Garden Party. There are four each year: one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during Holyrood Week in early July and three at Buckingham Palace later in the month.
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Guests form a ‘lane’ for The Queen to walk down whilst meeting guests on the Buckingham Palace lawn
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Names are drawn from nominations made through Lord Lieutenants, and organisations such as the Civil Service, Armed Services, Diplomatic Corps, charities and societies.
Guests can walk around the gardens and enjoy tea, cakes and sandwiches from the tea tent throughout the afternoon. At 4pm, members of the Royal Family arrive and meet members of the public in the garden.
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Garden Party guests brave the unpredictable British weather at Buckingham Palace
© Press Association |
This year’s events saw mixed weather, with some torrential rain, but whatever the weather, the events celebrate achievement in a very special and quintessentially British way.
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