UK Diplomatic Reception

Each year, the Monarch hosts a Diplomatic Reception for all the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the UK (Court of St. James's). This event is usually held at Buckingham Palace on a Tuesday in late November/ early December.

With over 1,000 guests, this is one of the largest events held inside Buckingham Palace each year. This is about 7x larger than a State Banquet. As a result, there is no seated dinner; instead, Guests are split into two sittings and assigned a specific room for dinner. 

Typical Schedule

• 7 PM 
• Guests start to arrive
• 1st  Sitting for Buffet Dinner in State Dining Room, Blue Drawing Room, Music Room and White Drawing Room
• 8:30 PM 
• Royals arrive at Reception
• 9 PM
• 2nd Sitting for Buffet Dinner in Picture Gallery, Green Drawing Room and Ball Supper Room
• 9:30 PM 
• Dancing begins
• 9:50 PM
• Royal Family departs
• 11 PM 
• Reception Ends

(Schedule based on note to attendees from 2017 Reception.)

Dress Code

White Tie or National Dress

Full Ceremonial Evening Dress for Serving Officers

with Tiaras & Honors!

Royal Attendance

--

Buckingham Palace
Windsor Castle

King Charles III's Reign

Year	Charles	Camilla	William	Kate	Location	Total
2020's
2029	-	-	-	-	-	-
2028	-	-	-	-	-	-
2027	-	-	-	-	-	-
2026	-	-	-	-	-	-
2025 Tues Nov 18th	x	x	x		Windsor Castle	3
2024 Tues Nov 19th					Buckingham Palace	3
2023 Tues Dec 5th				x		4
2022 Tues Dec 6th						4

Note: 

2023 - Group photo of Royals was taken before the reception.

2024 - Princess Kate did not attend as she is still on medical leave. 

2025 - Held at Windsor Castle due to the Re-servicing Project at Buckingham Palace. 

Queen Elizabeth II's Reign

We tended to get very few (or no) photos from the event, during Queen's Elizabeth's. In the past, we often just got Paparazzi photos of the Royals arriving. But the Palace was more generous in the final years. 

Year	Queen Elizabeth	Philip	Charles & Camilla	William & Kate	Others	Total
2020's
2022	Schedule for March at Windsor Castle  Canceled due to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
2021	Not held due to the Pandemic
2020	Not held due to the Pandemic
2010's
2019	x		x	x		5
2018						5
2017						5
2016		x				6
2015			Just Charles			5
2014			x	Overseas Visit		4
2013				x		6
2012						4
2011			On Tour		D&D of G and P&P M of Kent	6
2010			x		Prince Edward & Duchess Sophie Duke of G	7

--

Royal	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Queen Elizabeth	X
Philip	X
Charles & Camilla	X		X
Andrew
Edward & Sophie	X			X	Just Edward
Anne & Tim					X
Duke & Duchess  of Gloucester		X		X
Duke of Kent		X
Princess Alexandra		X
Total	6	6	4	6	5

Note: 

2016 - Group photo of Royals was taken before the reception

2015- Camilla canceled due to Muscular Pain in her neck and shoulder

Royal	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Queen Elizabeth	X
Philip	X
Charles		X			X
Andrew		X			X
Edward & Sophie		X
Anne & Tim			X	Just Anne
Duke & Duchess of Gloucester	X
Duke of Kent				X
Total	4	6	6	4	4

Notes: 

2001 & 2000 - Held at Windsor Castle

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