How to Host a Royal Garden Party at Home

Each summer, the King and Queen host thousands of guests on the lawns of Buckingham Palace for one of the loveliest traditions of the royal calendar: the garden party. Tea is poured by the gallon, bands play, and the great and the good, and the quietly deserving too, mingle over sandwiches and Victoria sponge beneath the London sky.

You do not need a palace to borrow the idea. A royal garden party is, at heart, a very grand afternoon tea held outdoors, and it is one of the most charming ways to entertain in summer (and one of the most achievable). With a little planning and a few good British touches, your own garden, terrace or park corner can capture the spirit beautifully.

Here is how to host a royal garden party at home, from the tea to the finishing touches.

What happens at a royal garden party

At a Buckingham Palace garden party, some 8,000 guests gather across the palace lawns, where around 27,000 cups of tea and mountains of sandwiches and cakes are served. Military bands play, the royal family circulates, and the National Anthem marks the arrival of the King and Queen. The dress code is smart: day dresses and hats for women, suits or morning dress for men. Our guide to royal garden parties tells the full story of the tradition.

The genius of it is its warmth: for all the grandeur, a garden party is really just tea in a beautiful garden, shared with good company. That is exactly what you are recreating.

Setting the scene: the tea

Begin with the tea itself, because it is the heart of the whole affair. Brew it properly and generously: a royal-warrant blend such as Twinings or a hamper from the King and Queen’s grocer Fortnum & Mason sets exactly the right tone. Serve it in proper cups; a set of cheerful Emma Bridgewater china or a fine tea service turns a garden table into an occasion.

Lay a pretty cloth, gather some garden flowers into a jug, and give yourself plenty of space for the food. The look you are after is generous and relaxed rather than fussy: elegant, but made for enjoying.

The food: sandwiches, scones and Victoria sponge

Royal garden-party food is classic and unfussy. Start with finger sandwiches (cucumber, egg and cress, smoked salmon, coronation chicken), crusts off, cut into neat fingers. Then scones with jam and clotted cream, and a proper Victoria sponge or a lemon drizzle to finish.

Keep it traditional and keep it plentiful. Our guide to afternoon tea, the most British ritual has the full running order if you want to do it properly, tier by tier. Home-baked is lovely, but there is no shame in a beautiful bought cake and a tin of good biscuits.

The drinks: tea, Pimm’s and fizz

Tea comes first, but a summer garden party calls for something sparkling too. A jug of Pimm’s, heaped with cucumber, orange, strawberries and mint, is the quintessential British summer drink and the easiest crowd-pleaser there is. For a celebratory toast, a bottle of royal-warrant Champagne such as Laurent-Perrier or a home-grown English sparkling like Nyetimber raises the whole affair.

Have plenty of cold water and a soft option too, and serve everything properly chilled. (Please enjoy responsibly; for over-18s.)

The finishing touches

The details make the day feel royal. Encourage guests to dress up: a summer frock, a hat or a fascinator turns an ordinary afternoon into an event. Fill the garden with flowers, bring out your best china, and if you are feeling ambitious, a little background music captures the garden-party mood.

Above all, borrow the royal spirit of the thing: warmth, generosity and good company. A garden party succeeds not on grandeur but on the pleasure of people gathered happily together over tea.

Why it’s the loveliest way to entertain

A garden party is the most gracious of summer gatherings: relaxed enough to be a joy to host, elegant enough to feel special, and gloriously British from the first cup to the last crumb of sponge. It asks only for a patch of outdoors, some good tea and a little care.

That is its enduring charm: a royal tradition anyone can borrow. Browse more of our British Living stories for the homely, celebratory side of royal life.

Frequently asked questions

What food is served at a royal garden party?

Royal garden parties serve classic afternoon-tea fare: finger sandwiches (cucumber, egg and cress, smoked salmon), scones with jam and cream, and cakes such as Victoria sponge, all with pots of tea. It is traditional, unfussy and plentiful.

How do you host a garden party at home?

Set out a generous afternoon tea outdoors: good tea, finger sandwiches, scones and cake, served on pretty china with garden flowers. Add a jug of Pimm’s or some fizz, encourage guests to dress up, and keep the mood warm and relaxed.

What drinks do you serve at a garden party?

Tea is essential, alongside a jug of Pimm’s for summer and, for a toast, Champagne or English sparkling wine. Always offer chilled water and a soft option, and serve everything well chilled.

What is the dress code for a royal garden party?

At a Buckingham Palace garden party the dress code is smart daywear: day dresses and hats for women, lounge suits or morning dress for men. For a party at home, encourage guests to dress up with a summer frock and a hat.

How many guests attend a Buckingham Palace garden party?

Around 8,000 guests attend each Buckingham Palace garden party, where roughly 27,000 cups of tea are served across the palace lawns, along with thousands of sandwiches and cakes.

Details of royal garden parties are described as of 2026. Please enjoy any alcohol responsibly.