The Queen’s annual garden parties are some of the most highly anticipated events in the royal calendar, and the garden party season for 2022 has officially begun.
Unfortunately, the Queen will not be hosting the parties this year due to her mobility issues, but other members of the Royal Family will be standing in for her, with Charles and Camilla hosting the first party of the season last week.
Today, the second garden party of the year will be taking place at Buckingham Palace, with gates opening to the stunning gardens at around 3pm.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will be stepping in as hosts, along with Kate Middleton and the Queen's cousin, Princess Alexandra.
Every year, senior members of the Royal Family attend the prestigious parties, but you don't need to be a royal to attend, with many members of the public also receiving invites.
Here’s everything you need to know about how you can secure an invite to a royal garden party.
How do you get an invite to the Queen’s garden parties?
Every year, the Queen welcomes more than 30,000 guests to her garden parties.
When the royal garden parties were first held during the reign of Queen Victoria, only members of high society were invited to the exclusive affair, but the modern-day garden parties have evolved into an opportunity to recognise public service and celebrate people who’ve made a positive impact in their community.
Those in the UK who wish to attend a garden party cannot apply to Buckingham Palace directly, instead, the Palace uses a “long-established network of sponsors” to invite guests.
So, to receive an invitation you’ll need to do some networking. Sponsors who offer invites include Lord-Lieutenants, government departments, local governments, societies and associations, the services, the Church and other faiths.
However, there is a way to apply for an invite if you live outside the UK. Each year a number of invitations are often allocated to countries within the Commonwealth, including Australia and New Zealand.
If you’re an Australian or New Zealand citizen then you can actually apply for an invite to the Queen’s garden parties through the New Zealand High Commission or the Australian High Commission websites.
Unfortunately, no invitations have been allocated to New Zealand or Australia for the 2022 garden parties.
Requirements to be invited to a royal garden party
To be invited to a royal garden party, you’ll also need to meet some strict requirements.
You must be over the age of 18 and cannot have attended one of the Queen’s garden parties before.
Those invited by the Palace’s network of sponsors must be British citizens who are resident in the United Kingdom.
If you are in New Zealand or Australia and are applying for one of the allocated tickets, then you must be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand.
You must also have a valid passport and a temporary visa for the UK.
Australian and New Zealand citizens who are allocated a ticket must pick it up at the relevant High Commission in London the day before the party, where you will need to show two forms of identification.
