The Queens After Party

Invite To The Party

Today was the big day. We went to the Queens Garden Party at Buckingham palace - Justin dressed in his best borrowed suit and me in my TK Maxx dress and M&S hat. Two other ladies were wearing the same dress as me. I wasn't surprised.

The Classy Couple?

We were told cameras weren't allowed and phones had to be turned off once entering the palace, but when we got there we realized it was ok to take a few pictures if you were subtle, and the rule mainly applied to taking photos of the royal family. As such we have some pictures of us enjoying the sights, but none of the Royal family, whom we got VERY close to.

The Queue Outside

We queued outside the palace for about 20 minutes and then were let in through the front gates and lead through two rooms in the palace to the back garden. Tents were set up for tea service and chairs and tables were in various areas of the massive green space.

After wandering around the garden and grounds when we first arrived for about an hour, and drinking some lemon and barley, we gathered around the garden terrace for the family to arrive. We knew the Queen was going to be there but the other members of the family alternate between the three days, and so we didn't know who else to expect. At about 4:00 the family was presented on the terrace and that's when we could hear people murmuring that Prince Charles, Camilla, and Kate Middleton were there, which everyone was very excited about.

View From The Terrace

Ushers in top hats made us form rows for members of the family to walk through the crowds, each one going down a different lane. We had no idea who would be coming down our lane, but we were standing in between two with a good view of both, so we figured we had a chance of seeing someone important up close.

Important pre selected people were strategically placed in the first rows of each lane, and we were in between two important groups of people. I figured it would be a great place to stand because we would be just as close, but not have to have a nerve wracking awkward conversation. And it was.

Royal Tea Tent Guards

Rumors were circulating about which lane Kate would be going down, and everyone seemed to have a different expert opinion. We heard the Queen was going down a lane quite far away from us, but we stood our ground hoping for the (second?) best. We saw Prince Phillip first in a lane beside us. He looked very old, which I think he is, but he chatted quite a lot with the guests he was introduced to. And then we saw Prince Charles, Camilla, and Kate heading our way. Prince Charles chatted with two ladies directly on my left: he was handsome, with a dark tan and bright blue eyes. He was charming and charismatic and seemed lovely indeed. I don't know what I expected but he really surprised me. Camilla was next down the lane talking to someone a few people away from us. She was surprisingly attractive, I didn't hear much she had to say though. Kate was last and talked to two people standing to my right and slightly in front of me. Basically my big head was right in between them directly facing her. I saw her famous engagement ring when she moved her hair from her face and it was stunning and huge. She was every bit as pretty in person as you would expect, with a brilliant smile and a few wrinkles around her eyes showing she has lead a happy life. She held a pleasant conversation about charity work until she was ushered on by her staff. I didn't expect to find them all so lovely and was quite pleasantly surprised by the whole thing.

After the meetings we went and stood in the queue for tea and little sandwiches. We walked towards the Royal Tea tent where all the important people were socializing. There was a pretty big crowd around the roped off area just hoping for a glimpse of someone special. It's was quite zoo like. We finished our tea and baby sandwiches then rushed to get a glimpse of the queen leaving. She was wearing a lovely purple skirt suit and hat and looked quite sweet and very old.

It was a once in a lifetime experience and I think both of us really appreciated the whole thing. We were a bit uncomfortable in our outfits and with all the formality but it was fun, interesting, and pretty special indeed.

Now off to Paris tomorrow...
Gen