William is joined by Beatrice for his first garden party of the year (2024)

The Prince of Wales has braved torrential downpours at a Buckingham Palace garden party and quipped it was 'good weather for swimming'.

William was greeted by a sea of umbrellas when he hosted the summer event for his father, with the weather leaving some guests drenched and others sheltering in the tea tents.

Around 8,000 people were invited to one of the summer highlights of the royal calendar, including William's cousins, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Zara Tindall, with her husband Mike.

The youngroyals put on a show of support for the King today as they hosted a garden party in his absence.

Led by the Prince of Wales, making his first appearance at Buckingham Palace this summer, the glamorous party also included his cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall - accompanied by her husband, Mike - and Peter Philips.

The Duke and duch*ess of Gloucester were also present.

William left with a children's book he pledged to read to Prince Louis at bedtime and a bag of freshly baked cookies from an RAF padre.

The prince, dressed in a top hat and morning suit, met Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmers Julie and Matthew Hall and let the husband and wife shelter under his umbrella.

The monarch often assigns responsibility for hosting one of the annual garden parties to family members, or allows them to organise one of their own for charities they are closely associated with.

William left with a children's book he pledged to read to Prince Louis at bedtime and a bag of freshly baked cookies from an RAF padre.

The prince, dressed in a top hat and morning suit, met Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmers Julie and Matthew Hall and let the husband and wife shelter under his umbrella.

Mrs Hall, from Bloomers Farm in north Dorset, said afterwards: 'We're farmers, we're used to the rain, and when we left this morning Dorset was in sunshine. It's all the seasons in one day sometimes.'

William met guests from a number of his patronages, Homewards, the homeless project he launched last year, and members of the military.

When the future king chatted to senior executives from Swim England, an organisation he supports as patron, he joked 'good weather for swimming'.

The Tindalls spent much of their time chatting to members of the public waiting in the rain to catch a glimpse of the royals.

Budding author Rowan Aderyn, part of William's Homewards team in Newport, Gwent, handed the prince a self-penned children's book, named after the homeless project, about a boy called Jack who meets a lady experiencing homelessness and wants to help.

Taking the book, which the author said was one of only 10 copies, William said: 'This is great, so inspirational. I'll read this to Louis tonight at bedtime.'

Squadron Leader Chrissie Lacey, a padre serving at RAF Coningsby near Lincoln, who is famed for getting up early to bake for the base, handed William a bag of cookies after he asked if she had woken up at 5am.

He said: 'I promise you that wasn't a fishing expedition but I will take them all the same, this is amazing.'

William also said that Prince George would love to visit the base as he is a 'potential pilot in the making'.

The minister said later: 'I like to share the love around the station, so I bake cookies for the personnel, and I go out and give them away. It's part of my ministry and it gives them a chance to stop, to pause and have a breather and talk and feel valued and appreciated.

'I got up at 4.30am to bake them, some have gone on to the station to be given away and I kept some aside for him.'

William also hosted an event last year.

But with his father still undergoing treatment forcancer - as is his wife, the Princess of Wales - William's presence, alongside the King's nieces and nephew, will inevitably be seen as a sign of family unity at a difficult time.

Sources have previously indicated that the presence of the Duke of York's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, should not be seen as a sign that they will start to undertake more public engagements or becoming part-time working royals.

Both have other jobs and charitable interests outside of the institution but were always invited by their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to occasionally attend garden parties or larger receptions at Buckingham Palace. It is a custom the king intends to maintain.

Charles, 75, has a packed diary with public engagements on all but one day this week, despite his wife, Queen Camilla, often urging him to slow down a little.

While the King continues to undergo treatment each engagement is being carefully calibrated to balance his desire to work with his health.

Guests began to file in from 3pm in order to enjoy the tea tents and palace grounds, despite grey skies and rain.

Around 8,000 people are invited to each party, nominated by sponsors including Lord-Lieutenants, government departments, charities, the military and Faith groups.

The royal party arrive, as usual, at 4pm on the terrace to the rear of the palace via The Carnarvon Room.

They stood for the National Anthem before being escorted down to the lawn before circulating through distinct 'lanes' under the guidance of gentleman ushers in order to meet as many members of the public as possible.

During the garden party William will meet guests from a number of both his own and his wife's patronages, military affiliations and passion projects including his Homewards initiative to combat homelessness, RAF Valley (the Welsh base where the prince worked as an RAF Search and rescue pilot), Swim England and tenants across the Duchy of Cornwall sites.

The inclusion of those with links to the Princess of Wales suggests that when planning for the garden party began last year it had been expected that Kate would attend.