Very few people get to attend a garden party at a private home in a garden of several hundred acres, but an Elora couple did just that on July 22.
Oh, and the Royal family was there, too.
Victor and Barbara Shantora applied for an invitation to one of several garden parties hosted by Queen Elizabeth and her family last January, and they learned in April they were invited.
Victor Shantora explained in an interview that his daughter, Heather, lives in London and worked with the High Commission last year to help celebrate July 1 in Trafalgar Square. She was invited last year, which intrigued her parents.
A website devoted to the garden parties held each year stated that with tea, cakes, and a beautiful garden to stroll in, garden parties are among the most relaxed and informal royal events. Every summer, the Queen hosts at least three garden parties at Buckingham Palace, plus one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The Shantoras were not alone. Over 30,000 people attend those events each year, with about 8,000 people at each of them.
Garden party invitations are sent out by the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of the Queen. All the arrangements are planned by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office.
The garden parties take place between 4 and 6pm. Most people like to dress up for their special day. Gentlemen wear morning dress, lounge suits or uniform, while women wear afternoon dress, usually with hats. National dress can also be worn.
After the playing of the national anthem, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, together with other members of the Royal family, circulate among the guests.
Shantora said at the party he and Barbara attended, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, also attended. The Royal family arrives promptly at 4pm and he said the Queen went in one direction to greet guests, Prince Phillip went in another, and Prince Charles and Camilla approached the area where they were, and the Shantoras were among the first to speak with the couple.
“They were very personable and chatty,” Victor said. “Camilla was telling us they’re looking forward to their next visit to Canada. It’s just being planned.”
The Shantoras decided to use their invitation to the garden party as a good reason for a holiday in London, although he noted they stayed only one week this time, with the holiday built around the garden party, some tourist attractions, and a visit with Heather and her husband.
They visited Stratford-on-Avon, Cambridge, Oxford, and, “We kind of did the tourist thing,” he said. “We really didn’t have a lot of time this year.”
Shantora said the Queen and Prince Phillip attracted the larger crowds, and while he and Barbara attempted to get close to both her and Prince Phillip, the crowds were six or seven people deep around both of them. He noted it was even difficult to see Her Majesty because she is not very tall.
But, he said, all members of the Royal family were very much relaxed in their own back yard, which he called “an oasis in the middle of London.”
The Queen and other members of the Royal Family eventually arrive at the Royal tea tent, where they meet other guests. In both London and Edinburgh there are tea tents for other guests.
Tea and other refreshments are served from long buffet tables.
The quantities served are enormous. At a typical garden party, around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed. Some 400 waiting staff are involved in the serving.
During the afternoon, two military bands take turns playing a selection of music.
At about 6pm, the Queen and other members of the Royal family leave the garden, when the national anthem is played to mark the end of the party.
Garden parties have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s, when Queen Victoria instituted what were known as “’breakfasts” even though they took place in the afternoon.
In the 1950s the number of garden parties held at Buckingham Palace was increased from two to three a year. They took the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes.
Shantora said of the make-up of those attending, “I would guess about half are from the United Kingdom, and the rest are ‘colonials.’ ”
Shantora and his wife are among the latter.
“We were born and bred in Canada. We’ve travelled a bit, but now we’ve settled in Elora,” he said.
