• Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace
• Queen’s Birthday Parades:  Trooping the Colour and Colonel’s Review

Information on how and when to apply for Royal Events is provided below.      

Due to the limited number of invitations or tickets available, the High Commission runs an electronic ballot for all events. Applications can only be made through this website via an online form. 

 

Royal Garden Parties

Photo credit: Buckingham Palace - Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0

This year the Royal Garden Parties will be held on Tuesday 12 May, Tuesday 19 May and Wednesday 27 May 2020 at Buckingham Palace, London. 

There are strict conditions and eligibility requirements for applications. We strongly advise that you read the eligibility criteria set by Buckingham Palace before submitting your application. 

New Zealanders who are not permanent residents of the United Kingdom are eligible to apply as a principal applicant.  Please note that all principal applicants must hold a current New Zealand passport and be either visiting the United Kingdom as a tourist, or residing with a temporary visa such as a Youth Mobility working holiday visa, temporary work visa, student visa, limited time visa i.e. Ancestry, etc.  

New Zealanders who are permanent residents with visas such as Indefinite Leave to Remain are not eligible to apply as a principal applicant.  This is a condition set by Buckingham Palace. 

Principal applicants may be accompanied by a guest.  The guest may be of any nationality and may be a permanent resident of the UK.    

You cannot apply if you have attended a Garden Party previously, or were issued an invitation and didn’t attend.     

Please remember that the availability of invitations is a discretionary service granted by the Palace to the New Zealand community. 

More information and the link to the application form can be found on the following link: 

APPLICATION AND INFORMATION LINK:  2020 Royal Garden Parties  

The application form will be available on the same link.  If you save the link, you will need to refresh the page on Monday 27 January 2020 when applications will open.

Queen's Birthday Parades - Trooping the Colour

Information about the Queen's Birthday Parades – The Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour 

Please note that this ballot is for seated tickets at Horse Guards Parade.  The public may watch the parade to and from Buckingham Palace without a ticket from standing space along its route.  They may also apply for a ticket directly from the Household Division. Further information about the parade is available at The Household Division (external link). 

Each year, the New Zealand High Commission receives a small allocation of tickets for the two Queen's Birthday Parade ceremonies which we make available by public ballot for New Zealanders visiting or resident in the United Kingdom.  

The parades are The Colonel's Review, which is the final dress rehearsal, and Trooping the Colour, which the Queen attends.  Both events are run by The Household Division (external link) - the seven British Army Regiments serving her Majesty.  

Both events commence around 10.00am in Horse Guards Parade between Whitehall and St James’s Park, London.  Guests will be instructed to arrive earlier in order to be seated in time.  The events last approximately two hours and finish at approximately 12.30pm.    

Applicants are reminded that:

• In addition to your ticket, you will be required to take valid government issued identification with you to the parade.  For example, passport, photo driving licence, credit card with photo, or armed forces ID card.  You will need to produce this ID if requested.
• All names and addresses submitted must match each guest’s form of identification.  
• All guests may be subject to search by the police and are requested not to bring hand luggage such as daypacks to the function.
• The principal applicant will be responsible for the behaviour of their guest.
• Dress Code Men: 
  The Colonel’s Review – Lounge Suit or Jacket and Trousers.  No denim.
  Trooping the Colour – Morning Dress, a lounge suit, or jacket and trousers.  Military personnel may wear ceremonial Day or other Service equivalent.  No denim.  
  Hats are optional, but recommended especially in hot weather.
• Dress Code Women:
  Most women wear a smart day dress, skirt and top, or a trouser suit for the parades.
  Military personnel may wear ceremonial Day or other Service equivalent.  No denim.
  Hats are optional, but recommended especially in hot weather.
• Non-compliance with the dress code may result in the ticket-holder being refused entry.
• More information about the event can be found on www.householddivision.org.uk/trooping-the-colour (external link)
  
  

PHOTO CREDIT: ©Official Site of The Household Division www.householddivision.org.uk (external link)