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Prince Harry Was Queen Elizabeth’s Date to a Seriously Massive Royal Garden Party Today

Prince Harry pressed pause on diaper duty and got gussied up to attend an 8,000-person (!) garden party alongside his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, today. 

The 34-year-old Duke of Sussex stepped out with the 93-year-old monarch to celebrate a Buckingham Palace tradition. Lucky for us, he shared tons of photos and details about the event on his and wife Meghan Markle’s shared Instagram account.

“Today the Duke of Sussex attended a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace alongside Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family,” the slideshow caption began.

The Sussex Royal account went on to explain that the queen’s garden parties are a tradition meant to recognize upstanding members of the community. It’s a practice that dates back to Queen Victoria’s reign in the 1860s.

The caption then highlighted the special relevance the event holds to the prince and his wife: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended their first official Garden Party as a couple last May at Buckingham Palace just days after their wedding, in celebration of the Prince of Wales’ charity work, patronages and military affiliations.” 

Since his 37-year-old wife is away on maternity leave and caring for their newborn, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince Harry did double duty, meeting with representatives from his own charities and those that Markle is patron of.  

“The Duke of Sussex met with several guests including those that he and the duchess extended a personal invitation to based on their extensive work in the community. His Royal Highness met with a representative of @africanparksnetwork (of which he is President), a mental health consultant for @weareinvictusgames and countless others who are leading by example with high impact cause driven work,” the caption explained.

He also hobnobbed with members from the Mayhew, the National Theatre, Smart Works Charity and the Association of Commonwealth Universities on the Duchess of Sussex’s behalf. 

The remaining 8,000 party guests were members of the armed forces, ambassadors and the community.

The Sussex Royal account ended the lengthy caption by thanking the volunteers and staff who made the event possible and added a cheeky clapping emoji.

Classic Harry and Meghan. 



lex

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.