Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth plans summer garden party

Feb 6, 2012, 18:43 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is planning a summer garden party at Sandringham House.

The 85-year-old monarch - who is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee, 60 years on the throne, today (06.02.12) - is to host a special event at the country house on June 12, marking the first time she has held an English garden party away from London's Buckingham Palace since her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

A royal insider told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'Invitations to garden parties at Buckingham Palace are always coveted, but I suspect that this one will prove even more popular because of its novelty value.

'Outside of London, the garden parties tend to be that much more relaxed, too.'

The queen has spent the anniversary of her father George VI's death and her own accession to the throne at her Norfolk estate ever since he passed away at Sandringham - which has been the private home of the royal family for four generations - in 1952.

In addition to the monarch's garden party, it is thought some three million people will be enjoying street parties all over the country to toast the queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Chris Gittins - director of Streets Alive, an organisation which promotes street parties - recently said: 'I think it will be the biggest year for street parties since 1977, the queen's Silver Jubilee.

'It will lift the nations' spirits with the poor economy. We need a bit of a bash. A street party is a fantastic English tradition, like Christmas, whether or not you are a Royalist.'