It was the hottest ticket in town, with the chosen few rubbing shoulders with royalty in the majestic grounds of Holyrood Palace. So what to serve up to match such grand surroundings?
Well, perhaps unsurprisingly given an event cloaked in tradition, the fair on offer at the royal Garden Party on Wednesday included some old favourites as the Queen welcomed some 6,000 guests.
Neil Logan, founder and director of Street Assist Edinburgh, was among them. “It was all very nice and beautifully presented,” he said. “It was an amazing opportunity to attend, and it’s a once in a lifetime event. To even receive an invite is a privilege and an honour, and it is a recognition of all the work Street Assist is doing here at home.”
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The once in a lifetime event served up a traditional afternoon tea menu including cucumber and fresh mint sandwiches, sultana scones with clotted cream and jam, Victoria sponge wedges alongside gooseberry mint elderflower presse, teas and coffee. The traditional British menu also included gammon sandwiches with tomato and mustard.
Neil said the event was quite a simple affair with elegant marquees placed around the palace. Teas, coffees and cakes circulated while the bands of the Army Regimen played in the background.
“People were there in finery and it was a great opportunity to cheer on the good work and stories from people around Scotland,” said Neil.
Members of the Royal Family were in attendance, including Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall was also rumoured to be at the party.
The Duke of Rothesay, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence also attended the event.
However, the Queen herself was not at the Garden Party. Earlier this year, the Palace announced that the monarch would no longer attend royal garden parties due to ongoing mobility issues.
Although Logan glimpsed the family in passing, he did not get to meet them.
“The chances to speak to the Royal Family are quite limited because there’s so many people at these things, but it’s really good to see them in Edinburgh recognising the hard working people in Scottish communities,” Neil said.
According to the Royal Family, Garden Parties are an opportunity to say thank you to those working hard for their communities. Logan and others like him were invited to the Queen’s Garden Party in honour of their special and important contributions.
“It means a lot that I could attend on behalf of Street Assist. We have 154 volunteers, and not all of them can go to these things. It’s good to go and represent the project and the volunteers and get recognised for all the work we do in the community,” Neil said.
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