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Each garden party begins with the royal family’s arrival and the British national anthem. Here, Princess Anne is seen arriving with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
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Summer garden parties are among the royal family’s most time-honored traditions. They are also considerably more relaxed affairs, so the royals typically mix with the guests and converse with as many as possible.
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The Royal Marines Band Service are seen in formation and playing at the start of the garden party. The military musical group performs at major ceremonial events, including during Trooping the Colour, the monarch’s annual birthday parade in June. Composed of highly skilled musicians capable of playing multiple instruments, the service is known for its precision and immaculate drill. Beyond its ceremonial role, the band service also supports Royal Navy fleet operations during active service.
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Princess Anne, who holds the honorary title of Captain General of the Royal Marines, receives a salute from the band.
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Here, Princess Anne is seen speaking with World War II veteran Henry Rice, age 100.
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The Princess also greeted WWII veterans Kenneth Embleton, 101, and Robert Piper, 100.
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Sir Timothy is seen welcoming J.J. Adams, 62, a former Royal Air Force officer, who served in Berlin and the Falklands, and her service dog Lulu, 7, an Imperial Shih Tzu.
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There is a special dress code for palace garden parties, but again, it’s a bit more casual as far as royal events go. Men typically wear morning dress or suits, and women wear day dresses with hats or fascinators.
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Guests are invited to enjoy tea and explore the palace gardens during their visit.
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While all of the previous garden parties have been fortunate enough to enjoy good weather, rain in London is inevitable at some point.
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.
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