5 garden parties made headlines and history

Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images For centuries, garden parties have brought everyday citizens together with the elite to enjoy hours of fine dining and entertainment. Dating back to ancient times, Romans would dine al fresco among the lush greenery of their home gardens. King Louis XIV was known to throw sumptuous celebrations at his palace in Versailles, like the Great Royal Entertainment in 1668, where guests wandered the gardens before enjoying a lavish afternoon tea service, a performance of a play, followed by a buffet, and a firework display to cap off the day. Such fête champêtres–meaning “outdoor entertainment”–even inspired an entire style of painting developed by Jean-Antoine Watteau, which depicted people relaxing in picturesque pastoral settings. In the second half of the 19th century, Queen Victoria further popularized these gatherings by holding regular events at Buckingham Palace. Garden parties became a way for the royal family to connect with the public, including key figures in their community. Today, over 30,000 people are invited each year, with three parties traditionally held at Buckingham Palace and one at Scotland’s Palace of Holyroodhouse. Over the years, garden parties have become about more than just mingling. Royalty and politicians use them to honor important groups, like war veterans, or make important announcements, while they serve as a clever means of fundraising for the arts. Peerspace put together a list of five unforgettable garden parties that made headlines, using information from government resources like the British Royal Family’s official website and The White House Historical Association, along with other reputable news sites. Keep reading to learn more about how each of these unique outdoor celebrations became a memorable moment in history. Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (1887) Hulton Archive // Getty Images On June 22, 1868, Queen Victoria ushered in a new era of royal celebrations, hosting her first garden party on the Buckingham Palace grounds. Perhaps the most memorable of the queen’s fêtes, however, was her Golden Jubilee nearly two decades later. Two full days of celebrations, including multiple banquets and a parade, marked the queen’s 50-year reign. At the festivities, an estimated 6,000 guests were invited to enjoy a tent-covered buffet of delicious refreshments and lively music by the Royal Marines at her Golden Jubilee garden party. The event was captured by Frederick Sargent in the now-famous oil painting “The Garden Party at Buckingham Palace,” which depicts Queen Victoria and her son, the Prince of Wales, greeting guests. Notable attendees, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Emperor Frederick III of Germany, and King Léopold II of Belgium, are also pictured among the finely dressed crowd in this piece acquired for the Royal Collection by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994. The Not Forgotten’s first celebration (1921) Fox Photos // Getty Images Since 1920, The Not Forgotten Association has worked to improve the mental health and quality of life of veterans and active service members who are disabled, ill, or wounded. For over a century, the England- and Wales-based charity has invited over 2,000 guests to the gardens of Buckingham Palace for refreshments and entertainment each year. Some lucky attendees participate in a meet-and-greet with hosting members of the Royal Family. Princess Mary was The Not Forgotten’s first Royal Patron, and with the blessing of King George V and Queen Mary, the first garden party was held in 1921. The day’s events included a glimpse behind the scenes of the Royal Mews–the entity that coordinates the Royal Family’s road travel–followed by tea and time to take in the garden’s beauty. A White House tribute to veterans (1924)