centenary celebrations at Buckingham palace june 2nd 2015
REPORT from our president SUE FALCUS
This was
certainly a day to remember, fortunate to be chosen from the ballot and priviledged to be representing our W.I. at the Palace.
Arriving at Buckingham Palace for 2pm, many queues had already started to form at several entrances around Buckingham Palace.
The queues although long were full of chatty ladies bonding in a common interest and for the afternoon I befriended a lady from Denbighshire and another from London, both of whom were great company.
We were given an option of several entrances to the Palace through which to enter and I chose to enter the Palace through the Hyde Park Entrance to enjoy a walk through the gardens to the main lawn and tea tent. (Photos of which can be seen on our Gallery Page on the Website)There were no restrictions to ambling around the Gardens, so I passed the Arboretum, circled a large central lake, walked across acres of lawns and some of which were manicured and some wild garden areas.
On arriving at the Main Lawn I was met with a sea of colour. People, grand marquees and of course the spectacular view of Buckingham Palace. Ladies adorned in an array of outfits and hats, fascinators, sparkling jewellery and remarkably no two outfits the same!
Three huge marquees described as ‘tea tents’ surrounded two sides of the lawn with the rear of Buckingham Palace and its grand steps on one other side and garden areas and a band at the other.
The ‘general main tea tent’ was very organised, served by smart staff, clearly well versed in providing afternoon tea for such grand events as this with over 3000 people in attendance.
The ‘tea’. What can I say except wonderful. Provided with a china plate with an indentation for the cup, we could have as much as we wanted with as many trips back and to, as we wished. Daintily cut sandwiches, no crusts, wraps, small pastries, tarts, cakes, scones, fruit cake, an abundance of never ending food, all beautifully decorated, and as expected which not only looked good but tasted good.
Whilst tea was being served, HRH Duchess of Cornwall arrived with the Countess of Wessex, Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra. The Duchess moved along an orderly line of women introduced to specific ladies en route down the line. She appeared to engage in conversation with people for some time and clearly in no hurry and as always very smartly dressed in navy blue with a large cream hat with a navy band.
Two Military Bands played during the afternoon, stationed at 2 opposite corners of the lawn whilst all the ladies enjoyed tea and ambled freely around the gardens, visiting the Queen's renowned rose garden, arboretums and acres of lawns and flower borders.
The Countess of Wessex, Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra all informally mingled with guests on the lawn, all chatting to small groups of ladies as they ambled about.
At 4.30pm promptly all Royals departed from the side entrance of Buckingham Palace and as I was close by I was fortunate to gain a very clear view but regrettably as per protocol no photos of the Royal Party were allowed.
Our departure at 5pm was signalled by the Band playing The National Anthem which was followed by an impromptu and rousing chorus of ‘Jerusalem’.
I decided to exit through the front of the Palace, walking through the grandeur of the ground floor of the main Palace building, across the quadrangle and through the next arch to the front of the Palace, the day sadly at an end.
Arriving at Buckingham Palace for 2pm, many queues had already started to form at several entrances around Buckingham Palace.
The queues although long were full of chatty ladies bonding in a common interest and for the afternoon I befriended a lady from Denbighshire and another from London, both of whom were great company.
We were given an option of several entrances to the Palace through which to enter and I chose to enter the Palace through the Hyde Park Entrance to enjoy a walk through the gardens to the main lawn and tea tent. (Photos of which can be seen on our Gallery Page on the Website)There were no restrictions to ambling around the Gardens, so I passed the Arboretum, circled a large central lake, walked across acres of lawns and some of which were manicured and some wild garden areas.
On arriving at the Main Lawn I was met with a sea of colour. People, grand marquees and of course the spectacular view of Buckingham Palace. Ladies adorned in an array of outfits and hats, fascinators, sparkling jewellery and remarkably no two outfits the same!
Three huge marquees described as ‘tea tents’ surrounded two sides of the lawn with the rear of Buckingham Palace and its grand steps on one other side and garden areas and a band at the other.
The ‘general main tea tent’ was very organised, served by smart staff, clearly well versed in providing afternoon tea for such grand events as this with over 3000 people in attendance.
The ‘tea’. What can I say except wonderful. Provided with a china plate with an indentation for the cup, we could have as much as we wanted with as many trips back and to, as we wished. Daintily cut sandwiches, no crusts, wraps, small pastries, tarts, cakes, scones, fruit cake, an abundance of never ending food, all beautifully decorated, and as expected which not only looked good but tasted good.
Whilst tea was being served, HRH Duchess of Cornwall arrived with the Countess of Wessex, Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra. The Duchess moved along an orderly line of women introduced to specific ladies en route down the line. She appeared to engage in conversation with people for some time and clearly in no hurry and as always very smartly dressed in navy blue with a large cream hat with a navy band.
Two Military Bands played during the afternoon, stationed at 2 opposite corners of the lawn whilst all the ladies enjoyed tea and ambled freely around the gardens, visiting the Queen's renowned rose garden, arboretums and acres of lawns and flower borders.
The Countess of Wessex, Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra all informally mingled with guests on the lawn, all chatting to small groups of ladies as they ambled about.
At 4.30pm promptly all Royals departed from the side entrance of Buckingham Palace and as I was close by I was fortunate to gain a very clear view but regrettably as per protocol no photos of the Royal Party were allowed.
Our departure at 5pm was signalled by the Band playing The National Anthem which was followed by an impromptu and rousing chorus of ‘Jerusalem’.
I decided to exit through the front of the Palace, walking through the grandeur of the ground floor of the main Palace building, across the quadrangle and through the next arch to the front of the Palace, the day sadly at an end.