Queen rounds off Diamond Jubilee celebrations with Balmoral garden party

By SHAN ROSS
Published on 07/08/2012 12:35

THE Queen is to host a garden party at Balmoral as she finishes her main Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Scotland.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who was hospitalised for a week in June following a bladder infection, is also expected to attend.

The last time a garden party was held at her residence in Royal Deeside was in 2002 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

Balmoral is one of the monarch’s private residences and is not part of the Crown Estate. It is where she and her family stay during the summer holidays. Invited guests over the years have included Prime Ministers and politicians from overseas.

Traditionally the Queen sets up court at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh at the beginning of July. This is used as her “Scottish base” during which she hosts garden parties there and carries out official events north of the border.

This year’s events have included a thanksgiving service attended by the Queen and Prince Philip on 4 July at Glasgow Cathedral.

During a ceremony in Edinburgh the next day, the Queen appointed her grandson Prince William to the Order of the Thistle - Scotland’s highest chivalric honour - during a service at St Giles Cathedral.