A wonderful afternoon photographing The Not Forgotten Garden Party held inside Buckingham Palace Gardens, central London.
I met the Not Forgotten team end of last year and we instantly connected and spoke about working together on events in 2026. So it was a great honour to be commissioned to photograph the garden party at Buckingham Palace one of the highlights of the year for such a historic charity which was founded in 1920 by Miss Marta Cunningham to entertain and comfort wounded veterans of the Great War.
The weather was quite unpredictable in the morning with rain showers as I left my house in London. Preparations were made for a cross mix of weather and we all hoped for sunshine during the afternoon tea party.
Once the gates to Buckingham Palace opened veterans headed across the beautiful lawns directly for the afternoon tea marquees to avoid any queues for the sandwiches. I tried to capture as many of the veterans arriving, a mixture of set up group shots and veterans and family walking across the green.
British vocal group Blake performed live to the audience of veterans on the garden lawns.
The music was very moving and the veterans enjoyed it in almost silence, sitting with the spectacular backdrop of Buckingham Palace. There aren’t many better or iconic venues than Buckingham Palace, I have been lucky enough to have photographed a number of events within the grounds over the last two decades.
I really enjoy capturing the little moments. The photo showing the eldest WWII Military veterans chatting together whist guests take selfies behind them ahead of the pre-designated guests meet HRH The Princess Royal.
Commissioned to photograph The Not Forgotten garden party at Buckingham Palace one of the highlights of the year for such a historic charity.
HRH The Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence arrive on the steps to the Buckingham Palace Gardens ahead of meeting guests including WWII veteran Robert Piper.
Capturing the joyful moments.
I photograph a mixture of set up groups, and then the rest are quite candid. I find it important to capture the joyful atmosphere, especially the veterans overloading their plates with too many cakes! Some of the military guests made sure they only had to queue just the once for refreshments during a busy afternoon at the Palace! They were busy, so they had a good enough excuse!
RAF and Afghanistan veteran JJ Adams enjoys a moment with Sir Timothy Laurence.
His Majesty’s Band of The Royal Marines play music throughout the afternoon.
HRH The Princess Royal Princess Anne walks through the line of guests after receiving a bouquet flowers ahead of the final Beating Retreat inside Buckingham Palace Gardens at The Not Forgotten Garden Party.
I was even fortunate enough to have a few seconds to take a portrait of 100-year-old WWII veteran Robert Piper.
If you would like to see further images from the afternoon on The Not Forgotten website then please go to the link below:-
https://thenotforgotten.org/image-gallery/buckingham-palace-garden-party-2026/
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