Buckingham Palace Garden Party
September 14, 2009
Buckingham Palace
By kind permission of: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
A Garden Party held in the grounds at Buckingham Palace and attended by members of the Royal Household.
Our grateful thanks to: ‘The Not Forgotten Association’ for the invitation requesting the company of myself and my wife at Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea on Wednesday 22nd. July 2009.
My wife was unduly apprehensive as to whether she aught to wear her Singapore national dress or one from her English style summer dress’ she need not have worried as many other Ladies wore their national dress. One young Japanese lady virtually stole the show by wearing her traditional Japanese kimono cultural costume.
Shortly before 2 pm the outer gate to the palace forecourt was opened, we were admitted and walked through to the main Palace entrance then into the inner courtyard from where we passed through the Palace itself and into the magnificent gardens.
Large marquees provided cover housing the caterer’s who provided a lavish selection of sandwiches with a choice of delicious fillings, cakes of all sorts, soft drinks, strawberries and cream, appetising pastries and of course plenty of tea. Service provided by waiters and or by self service option.
This is a special annual event where you will see many of the older and some more youthful soldier’s sailors Royal Air force and Merchant navy service men and women who proudly wear Medals won for active and or combat service given, and for valour often above and beyond the call. ‘Respect’ is fully accredited to these people, and is duly acknowledged.
The Band of: The Irish Guards
The weather could not have been better, a lovely sunny summer day not too hot for comfort and with an occasional light gentle refreshing breeze.
From a separate bandstand marquee the regimental band of the Guards played a repertory of enjoyable music. The National Anthem was played to announce the arrival of Their Royal Highnesses who also appeared to be having an enjoyable social afternoon, spending most of their time engaged in conversation with their guests.
The Palace Grounds
At the upper part of the vast garden area nearer to the rear of the Palace it was a real pleasure to see two Pipe Majors, that is I assume these would be majors, dressed in full highland uniform and playing set pieces on their bagpipes, such as Scotland the Brave, Hielan Laddie, and other tunes.Pipe band music set pieces are unique and have attained international appeal the tunes are distinctive having a rhythmic vitality in range and tempo, from such as the more mournful lament, through to those played in distinctive 6 over 8 beats to the bar time, marching tunes played with a lively lilt or a swagger, others are in the tempo of a highland reel or a strathspey at a strutting pace, and other tunes played in straightforward 4 over 4 beats to the bar marching time.
Of these two Pipers one was from the much favoured Gurkha regimental pipe band, judging by the other pipers plain none tartan kilt, I would guess that he was from the London Scottish Regiments pipe band.
The area of the lavishly landscaped garden is surprisingly extensive, at the furthermost part from the Palace there is a lovely lake there are walkways and secluded areas with seating where the surrounding quietness may easily make one quite forgetful that you are in the centre of London.
Regimental Band of: The Irish Guards.
Shortly before 5 pm dressed in their famous scarlet uniforms and wearing their bearskin caps the regimental band marched on to the designated parade area. They gave a stunning display of different formations whilst in marching formation playing a selection of stirring traditional military marching tunes, and the music compositions which represent the various branches of the combined armed forces, finishing with the ceremony of Beating Retreat to mark the close of day.
By 5: 30 pm. We made our way back through the Palace to the outer forecourt gates leading to the Mall.
Back to normality, our memorable afternoon was at a close.
The Differences
Medals rather than: Titles
The clearly obvious difference between these awards must be emphasised,
of the numerous awards given annually known as ‘titles’ under the entirely different ‘honours’ orchestrated system which are obtained mainly through governmental influence, such are in the majority of cases given out rather like lollipops.
The recipients often having done little or nothing which really could be regarded as creditably note worthy although there may be a small minority of exceptions, generally these titles lack credence commanding very little or no respect whatsoever.
Mike Breslin