"Tea with Her Majesty, The Queen"


      Imagine the thrill and honor you would feel when your invitation to tea at Buckingham Palace arrived from the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. That is what over 30,000 fortunate people a year experience in London and Edinburgh when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth hosts her annual garden parties. 
      Each summer, The Queen hosts at least three garden parties at Buckingham Palace and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The Lord Chamberlain sends out approximately 8,000 invitations on behalf of The Queen to each event, which takes place between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.  
      In addition to these three main events, a member of the Royal Family hosts a garden party each year for the Not Forgotten Association, a charity for war veterans of all ages. And most years, The Queen honors a national organization celebrating a special anniversary with another garden party, such as the fiftieth anniversary of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme for young people. 
      Upon arrival at Buckingham Palace, visitors stroll through the beautiful gardens and await The Queen’s arrival with exhilarating anticipation. Ladies are wearing afternoon dress, usually with hats, and gentlemen are clad in morning dress, lounge suits or uniforms. National dress is also worn. 
      After the playing of the National Anthem, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, along with other members of the Royal Family, socialize with their guests, being randomly presented so that everyone has an equal chance of speaking to a member of the Royal Family. 
      The Queen and her family make their way to the Royal tea tent, where they continue to meet guests. Tea, sandwiches and cake are served from long buffet tables by 400 wait staff members while two military bands take turns playing music for the garden party attendees. 
      Quantities of food served at the Royal garden parties are enormous. At a typical event, approximately 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed. 
      By 6:00 pm, the party winds down and the National Anthem is played again as The Queen and other members of the Royal Family leave the garden to mark the end of the party. 
      Queen Victoria began hosting garden parties in the 1860s. Then, they were known as ‘breakfasts’ even though they took place in the afternoon. In the 1950s, a third garden party was added each year and they took the place of presentation parties for debutantes. In 1997, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh held a garden party for couples sharing their Golden Wedding anniversary. And in 2002, special parties were held at Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyroodhouse when guests born on the day of The Queen’s Accession, February 6, 1952, were invited. 
      In her private time, however, Her Majesty is served Tea Scones with her afternoon tea. You will find the recipe for the Royal Tea Scones below, graciously provided to us by Darren McGrady, Queen Elizabeth’s former Senior Pastry Chef. They are quite delicious, and now you, too, can dine like a Queen! But, no other place on earth could rival the quintessential afternoon tea with Her Majesty, The Queen like Buckingham Palace.

      A debt of gratitude goes to Miranda Hansen Lise, Information Officer in the Press Office of Buckingham Palace for her assistance in researching this newsletter. And to Darren McGrady, former Senior Pastry Chef at Buckingham Palace, for allowing us to reprint the recipe for Royal Tea Scones.

Source: www.royal.gov.uk
             www.theroyalchef.com
             
Palace Photos:  © Lighthouse Literary, Inc.
Palace Invitation, Darren McGrady Photo & Royal Tea Scones Recipe:  Reprinted from EATING ROYALLY: Recipes & Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen by Darren McGrady (Thomas Nelson Books, 2006). Printed with permission by Darren McGrady and InkWell Management.

                             Royal Tea Scones