Author: Claire FitzGerald, administration manager, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
To the Palace we went and it poured,
We got really soaked but not bored,
They played Mr Blue Sky,
We couldn’t work-out why,
But we had brilliant fun, thank the Lord.
This limerick is from Simon Digby who attended a somewhat damp Royal Garden Party on 21 May.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my role at NALC is managing the allocation of invitations to The Kings Garden Parties held at Buckingham Palace each year. The royal garden party is a prestigious event hosted by the British monarch at Buckingham Palace or other royal residence, where invited guests from various backgrounds are honoured and celebrated in a formal, outdoor setting. They are an important way for the Royal Family to engage with people who have made a positive impact in their community. NALC manages the allocation of invitations for the local council's sector.
It is an absolute pleasure as I understand the delight of attending a royal garden party, having worked as a Red Cross volunteer at many and attending as a guest some years ago.
I asked guests for some of their reflections on their experiences this year. As much as I would love to share all the stories I received, unfortunately, space does not permit me to do so. I thank all the guests who took the time to respond to me.
Here is a summary of some of the reflections. I hope to do them justice:
Cllr Andrew Thomson, chair of Cheswardine Parish Council, was honoured to be invited to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party and to represent his small rural Parish Council and community in North Shropshire. The weather was fantastic, and he was surprised by how large the event was.
Chris Tams, Skelton and Brotton Parish Council, described the day as an amazing and truly memorable experience it was for her and husband. They were very proud and privileged to represent Skelton and Brotton Parish Council. She thanked NALC for making this possible, as they are true royalists.
Cllr Mike Baker shared that he and his wife were fortunate to meet, shake hands, and exchange a few words with the entire Royal Party as they were leaving the area, and they seemed genuinely interested in where they were from and if they enjoyed the day. It was a very good day, made even better by the perfect weather.
Kerry Coltham, clerk of Wingham Parish Council, and her husband and Scott Coltham highlighted how beautiful the gardens were, with different shades of azaleas in full bloom. They thought it was great to see the Yeoman of the Guard and felt the two military bands provided a fabulous accompaniment to the afternoon. It was a special afternoon and a great experience.
Cllr Keith Robertson, chair of Catsfield Parish Council, and his wife Victoria Robertson, shared the following tips:
- Ladies, don't wear stiletto heels; you are on a lawn.
- Bring plasters if you are in new shoes or break your shoes in first.
- If you are not comfortable in a hat, wear a fascinator; it’s much easier to manage.
- Everyone is so friendly and eager to chat, and it is lovely to see so many people in their finery.
Cllr John S. Glover, chair of Stanford Rivers Parish Council, described his day as a great success and noted that he saw the King and Queen among the throng of 8,000 guests.
Sue Cocker, who was nominated by Lambourn Parish Council, shared that despite being soaked to the skin (fortunately, it wasn’t cold), it was a wonderful experience, and she was very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend.
Siân Woodfine, chair of Bromham Parish council, expressed that it was an honour to be invited and to represent Bedfordshire. She thought the event was an incredible experience and opportunity despite the rain! It was lovely to see that even the weather couldn't dampen people's spirits!
Simon and Susan Bott, who represented Severn Stoke and Croome D’Abitot Parish Council, on behalf of Kempsey Parish Council felt the day was a valuable one-off experience, and they felt honoured and privileged to have been nominated by the parish council.
Phil Ashcroft, chair and clerk of Kirkburn Parish Council, expressed that it wonderful to be present as King Charles continued his return to duties in early May.
Cllr Cathryn Nicoll, Scothern Parish Council, found that everyone attending was so friendly and willing to chat about why they had been granted an invitation. Guests came from a wide variety of walks of life. It was very well organized (as you would expect), and the tea was lovely.
Lisa Courtney, clerk, Saffron Walden Town Council, attended Buckingham Palace with her husband, Kevin, and they were both so excited in the weeks leading up to the visit, spending hours trying on new wardrobes to look their finest for the King. They noted they were lucky with the weather; the sun shone brightly, and they spent most of the afternoon sitting and listening to the amazing King’s band against a backdrop of Buckingham Palace.
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