Buckingham Palace was in full bloom on May 20 as Prince William and Princess Kate hosted the royal Spring garden party, one of the season’s most beloved traditions. Dressed in cheerful yellow and surrounded by family, Princess Kate’s return to the garden party circuit marked more than just a royal engagement – it was a step forward in her ongoing cancer recovery.
Held on behalf of King Charles, this year’s springtime soirée brought together more than 8,000 invited guests on the palace lawns. Guests were selected for their service to their communities and support of causes championed by the royal family. Among them were familiar faces, moving reunions, and touching tributes, all wrapped in the formality of a royal afternoon tea.
Princess Kate Hosts The Royal Garden Party In Vibrant Yellow
This year’s event was particularly meaningful for the Princess of Wales, who had not attended a garden party since 2023. In 2024, she remained out of the public eye while undergoing treatment for cancer. On Tuesday, however, she made a radiant return, clad in a yellow Emilia Wickstead coatdress and a coordinating Philip Treacy hat.
Following a royal tradition popularised by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Kate often chooses bright colours for public outings so that she can be easily spotted in the crowd. “She needs to stand out for people to be able to say, ‘I saw the Queen,’” Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh once remarked in The Queen at 90.
Prince William, in formal morning dress and top hat, looked every bit the proud partner and royal host as he joined Kate on the garden steps for the playing of God Save the King, before the pair descended into the crowd to greet guests.
Who Is Invited To The Royal Garden Party?
The garden party was a true family affair. William and Kate were joined by royal cousins Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall, both of who have become familiar faces at Palace events in recent years. Eugenie wore a navy and white polka dot Rixo dress paired with a matching hat, while Zara opted for classic blush tones. Also in attendance were Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh – who wore a floral pink Beulah London dress – and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Guests mingled over tea, finger sandwiches, and slices of sponge cake as Yeomen of the Guard, dressed in their traditional scarlet and gold, provided ceremonial flair. A military band played gently in the background while attendees walked around the Palace’s vast gardens – many for the first time ever.
Among those present were some particularly meaningful guests. The family of Liz Hatton, the teenage photographer who passed away last year from cancer. Another moving moment came when Kate embraced Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, who she had photographed in 2020 as part of a project marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust.
The History Of The Royal Garden Party
The royal garden party has come a long way since Queen Victoria hosted the first of its kind in the 1860s, but much of its charm remains unchanged. Guests still queue in tea tents, 27,000 cups of tea are poured each season, and members of the royal family continue the age-old tradition of mingling through “lanes” so that as many people as possible have the chance to speak with them.
Tuesday’s event followed two earlier garden parties already hosted this season by King Charles and Queen Camilla. It also came the day after another royal favourite – the Chelsea Flower Show – meaning it was a busy week for the family.
For Princess Kate, however, this was more than another line on the calendar. It was a graceful return to the fold. As she chatted with guests and smiled for cameras, one thing was clear – the Princess of Wales is well and truly back.
