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18 JULY 2003
Guests at the Queen's legendary garden parties have long suffered one little frustration – they cannot take any souvenir photos. Cameras are banned from the afternoon gatherings, so guests have had to make do with little more than a fond memory.
But is has now been decided that the events will be filmed, and videos and DVDs offered to attendees at £15 each. As of next Tuesday, cameras will follow the Queen and Prince Philip as they mingle with up to 8,000 guests in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. And presuming the video-diaries meet with royal approval, they will then be offered for sale as mementos.
The Palace has disclosed that any profits arising from the sales will go straight back to British Ceremonial Arts, who will be making the films. And it is expected they may sell quite a few, as some 30,000 people attend the Queen's garden parties each year.
The events are seen as an opportunity for the monarch to say thankyou to citizens who have given years of service to the community. The guests are handpicked by the Army, local councils and major charities.
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