The Royal Garden Party

The Master writes . . .

On 31st May the Master and Mistress were in attendance at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Garden Party.

The weather was kind, but with Company brolly in hand, and sporting the new “Informal” tie, Tony and Jan, having lunched at the Goring, set off with a group of Livery friends for the Palace …

Queues were miles long, but we were directed to a little known entrance  in order to get there on time.  What a spectacle!

Hundreds, no thousands were there, taking in the fabulous gardens and parkland setting, and then the Royals arrived right on cue at 4pm to mingle with the selected few!  HM The Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge, the Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and the Duke of Gloucester.

The Master, not being noted for his ‘shy’ style, managed to elbow his way to the front, and was introduced to the Duke of Gloucester, who of course attended our Banquet in 2010 to present us with the Royal Charter.  He graciously remembered the occasion, and was interested to know about the current industry, and the impact of the demise of Carillion etc.

Tea and those much talked about ‘sandwiches’ were a plenty . . . .

A most memorable event in the Livery Calendar . . .

In the picture on the right, which was taken in the courtyard of the Palace, can be seen the Robert Burgon – the Master Plumber, Jash Joshi – the Prime Warden Blacksmith, the Master and Roger Poulton – the Master Joiner and Ceiler.