The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with a slew of other British royals, attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 20. The appearance marks Kate’s return after skipping out on the 2024 Garden Party amid her cancer treatment.
The outdoor soiree, part of a series of annual garden parties held at the palace and Scotland’s Palace of Holyroodhouse, allows the royal family to “speak to a broad range of people from all walks of life, all of whom have made a positive impact in their community,” according to the royal family’s official website.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Kate, Princess of Wales, stand at the top of the garden steps before the start of the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 20, 2025.
Entry to the event is invitation-only, and invites are typically distributed via a “long established network of sponsors,” per the royal family’s website. Guests often include Lord-Lieutenants, as well as members from select societies and associations, government departments, the Church of England and other faith-based organizations.
During the Garden Party, the royals in attendance greet guests in designated “lanes,” during which each royal family member takes a different route and watches presentations from the various attendees, according to the royal family’s website. Afterward, the royals make their way to the Royal Tea Tent to converse with other guests.
See who else was in attendance at the Royal Garden Party.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, meets guests during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 20, 2025.
Princess Kate
Kate, Princess of Wales, greets guests during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 20, 2025.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, arrive at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 20, 2025.Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, greets guests during the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 20, 2025.
