Councillors to attend Royal Garden Party – We ask their thoughts on hereditary roles

Wrexham Council are, as is usual, sending representatives to a Royal Garden Party this year.

The Local Government Association is allocated a number of tickets to Royal Garden Parties, and they then sub allocate them based on the population of member areas. Wrexham therefore gets four tickets, with the Council report noting “Customarily the Civic Head and Consort/Mayoress have represented the Council along with a nominated Member & spouse/partner.” All Group Leaders were consulted and requested to submit nominations, with the final decision made by the Council Leader.

As a result the incoming Mayor, Councillor Ronnie Prince and the incoming Mayoress, Ms Sunanda Kapas will be attending, along with Cllr Andrew Atkinson ‘and guest’.

The possible parties are on Tuesday 12 May, Tuesday 19 May or Wednesday 27 May 2020. All the expenses associated with the party visit will be met from the Civic Expenses and Members’ expenses budget.

We asked both councillors if they will be taking up the invite, and we also asked at what level of UK and Welsh democracy they believe hereditary roles are inappropriate (We gave examples of hereditary Police and Crime Commissioners, or hereditary Council Leaders or Community Councillors!).

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ron Prince said, “I will be attending as Mayor of Wrexham and I am looking forward to promoting the interests and reputation of the county borough at the event.”

Cllr Atkinson told us, “The Mayor attends the Garden Party every year on behalf of the council and takes another councillor and guest and this year I’m honoured to be attending and will of course be taking up the invitation. I very much respect the monarchy and look forward to the day.”

The Queen entertains 132,000 people a year at garden parties, investitures, receptions, dinners and lunches as a way of acknowledging people’s achievements and contributions

The dress code for such parties is described as “gentlemen wear morning dress or lounge suits, while women wear day dress, usually with hats or fascinators. National dress and uniform are also often worn.”

The detail given on Royal.UK adds, “The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh circulate among the guests through ‘lanes’. Each takes a different route and random presentations are made so that everyone has an equal chance of speaking to Her Majesty and other Members of the Royal Family. The Queen then arrives at the Royal Tea Tent, where she meets further guests.

“Guests are free to eat, drink and stroll around the beautiful Palace gardens.”

Previously in the Sovereign Grant accounts PDF for 2014-15 indicates around £2.1m is spent every year holding the Garden Party events, up £300k from 2012 – however there is no split in the most recent figures.

One interesting note is at the Royal Garden Party events  it has been reported that in one year 5,000 silver-plated teaspoons were used with the Queen’s head on them rather than usual plastic ones, yet 1,000 of them were nicked – presumably by the guests as a souvenir of the day.