It’s 2019. We live in a world where we can see all the comings and going of the royals on Instagram. (Seriously, what would we do without regular updates from @SussexRoyal?)
Well, leave it to Queen Elizabeth and Co. to tout the historical significance of it all via a throwback pic they just shared on the @RoyalFamily Twitter account.
The photograph shows a Garden Party—hello, like the one we just saw Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice attend—taking place at Buckingham Palace a cool 108 years ago in 1911. The caption provides a mini history lesson, too: As it turns out, garden parties have been a royal tradition since the 1860s during Queen Victoria’s reign. Another interesting fact? There are still a whopping 30,000 people who attend.
So, how do you score an invite? That’s the tough part: Per the royal family’s website, you have to be nominated by a network of sponsors, which include everyone from Lord Lieutenants to local government officials. The intention of the event has also evolved over time. Now, the garden party is considered an opportunity to recognize public service in the UK.
Talk about an amazing opportunity to dress to impress and meet the queen. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out how much the hats have changed between 1911 and now. Circa 2019, you still see a lot of top hats, but it appears that the fascinators have become much more...refined. (We approve.)