Right royal party at the Palace

Celebrating 60 years on the throne

by Adrienne Wyper

As a child growing up in London, I was always straining to see over the walls of Buckingham Palace gardens whenever I went past on a double decker. Later, when I worked on the 10th floor of an office block in Victoria, we could see further into the gardens, and glimpse a tennis court. (Never saw anyone playing though.)

Last night I finally got inside the gardens. The occasion was the Gala Evening concert, as part of the Coronation Festival. For four days over 200 of the Royal Warrant holders, who supply goods and services to the Queen or the Prince of Wales's households, have set out their stalls, so you can take a peek at what might be on the Queen's shopping list. Purveyors of everything from shortbread to salmon, telescopes to tack (that's equine accessories, not low-quality merchandise!) are showing their wares as part of the festival. Find out more about the Royal Warrant Holders Association.

The concert was magnificently varied, telling the history of the past 60 years through music and dance, beginning with a fanfare from the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Household Division, and progressing though lively performances from the East London Dance and the Dhol Foundation, Katie melua with a song specially composed by Mike Batt, protegés of Dame Kiri te Kanawa sining a Mozart aria, plus the premiere of Eric Whitacre's Choir 4 piece Fly to paradise, with soloist Hila Plitmann, the Bach choir and 4,000+ participants via social media.

Evening tickets are sold out but you can watch the concert on BBC1 on Saturday July 13 at 7pm, or on iPlayer.

Take a tip from me if you're visiting the Palace: the paths are dusty and/or gravelly and the lawns are uneven so go for sturdy, not spindly, heels!

You can visit Buckingham Palace on an official tour, or you might like more royal days out. And if you're in the mood for another royal celebration, why not knit the royal baby?

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About The Authors

Carla  Griscti

Carla Griscti

Editorial assistant on allaboutyou; Music lover, travel bee and food fanatic.

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Emma Marsden

Emma Marsden

Food consultant of All About You, loves creating something out of nothing and decluttering.

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Bernadette  Fallon

Bernadette Fallon

Editor of All About You; an online journalist with a fetish for glossy magazines.

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Adrienne  Wyper

Adrienne Wyper

Deputy editor of All About You. I love cycling, cooking and creating

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Carol  Muskoron

Carol Muskoron

Associate editor of All About You, loves life (mostly) and one-pan recipes (always).

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