A look back at the Queen's garden parties throughout history
Pictures of interesting guests, and fashion, from history
Each summer, the Queen hosts three garden parties in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and one at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The soirees welcome more than 30,000 guests, who are typically invited on the grounds of their charity work and positive impact on the community, in total. According to the royal family's website, 20,000 slices of cake are eaten and 27,000 cups of tea drank at the events each year. The dress code is a frock and fascinator for women and morning dress or suits for men.
The events always make for exciting royal moments and appearances from multiple members of the family. This year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have already attended one of the Buckingham Palace parties, with Kate opting for a pink dress by her go-to label Alexander McQueen.
Here, we take a look back at the fashion, guests and decorum of the famed summer parties throughout history.
1868
An illustration of a garden party hosted by Queen Victoria in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
1911
Chancellor of the Exchequer (and later Prime Minister) David Lloyd George and his wife Margaret leaving a garden party at Buckingham Palace
1919
Guests arriving at Buckingham Palace in July 1919
1920
Queen Mary, stood next to King George V, shaking hands with Victorian Cross holders. Behind her are Princess Mary, the Duke of York (Elizabeth II's father), Prince Henry and Prince and Princess Arthur.
1921
Writer Rudyard Kipling and his wife, Caroline (central) leaving the party
1932
Female guests arriving at the garden party
1946
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth and Margaret at a July garden party at Sandringham
1947
Princess Elizabeth and then fiance Philip Mountbatten mingling with guests at the party
1948
Guests arriving at the garden party held by the King
1953
Sir Edmund Hillary (right) with his wife and daughters and the Nepalese mountaineers who successfully climbed Mount Everest with the adventurer at the party
1956
Two party guests in front of Buckingham Palace
1960
Guests queuing to get into the Buckingham Palace garden party
1968
Prince Charles talking to the Queen Mother at the Buckingham Palace party
1981
An engaged Lady Diana Spencer talks to guests at her first garden party, next to the Duke of Edinburgh
1989
Lord Airlie, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
1991
Diana, Princess of Wales attends the garden party in July
1997
Talking to guests at Holyrood House
1997
The Queen invited couples who were all celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, to coincide with 50 years of marriage between herself and Duke of Edinburgh, to the party in 1997.
2004
Anne, Princess Royal, meets World War One veterans
2005
Making her way to greet guests in a floral dress
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