The Duchess of Cambridge accompanied by The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Princess Alexandra led the 2nd Garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace. The Garden Parties at the Palace are one of the staple events of the Royal calendar.
The Pandemic had its impact and the garden parties were canceled in 2020 and 2021. But this year they are back to celebrate the communities. The garden parties were instituted by Queen Victoria in the 1860s when they were known as ‘breakfasts’, despite taking place in the afternoon. Historically, Garden Parties took the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes, and have evolved into a way of recognizing and rewarding public service. An oil painting of Queen Victoria and Alexandra, Princess of Wales at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Over 30,000 guests spend a relaxed summer afternoon in the beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse during the Garden party. Garden Parties are an important way for The Queen and the Royal Family to speak to a broad range of people from all walks of life, all of whom have made a positive impact in their community.
Due to mobility issues, the 96-years old Queen decided not to attend this year’s parties. She is being represented by the members of the Royal family at each party. In addition to three Buckingham Palace parties in May and the traditional Palace of Holyroodhouse event in late June, The Queen granted special permission for the Not Forgotten Association garden party to be hosted by Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace this year.
The Duchess, The Earl and Countess, and The Princess spent more than an hour meeting people from all walks of life and thanking them for their services. The garden is decorated in a special clockwise route called ‘lanes’ through which Royals walk around and try to meet as many people as possible. The Duchess met with the representatives of many of her patronages like the Foundling Museum, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Forward Trust.
For the party, The Duchess of Cambridge chose a pretty pink shade. The Duchess was wearing a pink Emilia Wickstead coat dress.
An interesting fact is The Duchess owns the same coat in Green that she wore at the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day parade and in blue that she wore to the Luxembourg visit and to the Easter Sunday service this year.
Catherine paired the outfit with Jane Taylor Lysaa in Straw Pink Hat that she first wore at 2017 Trooping the Colour parade.
The Duchess teamed up the look with her Emmy London Rebecca Makeup Pumps first worn in May 2021
And her Kiki McDonough Morganite Cushion Drop & Diamond Earrings.
She was carrying her Josef Point de Beauvais Beaded Flap Clutch Bag.
Tomorrow we will see the Duke and Duchess at the London premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’.