King Charles and Lionel Richie.Photo: Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty

King Charles III speaks with Lionel Richie and Lisa Parigi during the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation of the King Charles III and the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace, on May 3, 2023 in London, England.

King CharlesandQueen Camillaare just days away from theircoronation— but first, they’re hosting a Buckingham Palace garden party!

The royal couple opened the doors of the royal residence in London to thousands of guests on Wednesday for the first garden party of King Charles' reign. Garden parties have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s as a way for the monarch to recognize public service.

Also in attendance werePrince EdwardandSophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

King Charles.Yui Mok/PA Wire via ZUMA

May 3, 2023, London, UK: King Charles III speaks with Baroness Doreen Lawrence (left) and members of her family, during a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London, in celebration of the coronation on May 6.

Among the thousands of guests was Lionel Richie, who is set to perform at King Charles and Queen Camilla’sCoronation Concerton Sunday, just one day after the crowning ceremony. The special concert will feature an eclectic lineup that also includesKaty Perry,Andrea Bocelli, Take That, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings and Alexis Ffrench.

Queen Camilla, Lionel Richie and Lisa Parigi.Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty

Camilla, Queen Consort speaks with Lionel Richie and Lisa Parigi during the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation of the King Charles III and the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace, on May 3, 2023 in London, England.

The monarch traditionally hosts multiple garden parties at Buckingham Palace and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland each summer — although additional parties may be held with the monarch’s permission. Princess Anne also traditionally hosts a garden party for the Not Forgotten Association, a charity for war veterans of which she is a patron, each year.

In addition to mingling with members of the royal family, guests are treated to tea and cake. (According to the royal family’s website, around 27,000 cups of tea are served and 20,000 slices of cakes are consumed!)

King Charles and Queen Camilla.YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty

Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort arrive to meet the guests attending the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, in London, on May 3, 2023 to celebrate their coronation ceremony as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realm nations, on May 6, 2023.

For a garden party, men usually wear morning dress or lounge suits while women wear day dress, usually paired with hats or fascinators. National dress and uniform can also be worn.

The garden party is, of course, just one part of a busy week for King Charles and Queen Camilla. Ahead of their crowning ceremony on Saturday, they’ll spend the week welcoming guests from around the world who traveled to the U.K. for the coronation.

King Charles.Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty

King Charles III speaks with guests during the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation of the King Charles III and the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace, on May 3, 2023 in London, England.

King Charles will wear two crowns at his coronation. The monarch will be crowned with theSt. Edward Crown, which was first created for King Charles II in 1661 and was a replacement for the previous crown that had been melted down in 1649. According to the palace, the original was thought to date back to the 11th-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

He will then swap the headpiece for the more commonly used (and slightly less heavy!)Imperial State Crownas he leaves the ceremony.

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Buckingham Palace Garden Party.Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort stand at the top of the steps prior to meeting guests attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the forthcoming coronation at Buckingham Palace on May 3, 2023 in London, England.

The choice to wear an existing crown rather than a new commission hasn’t been done since the 18th century, when Queen Caroline, consort of George II, wore Mary of Modena’s crown. The palace noted the decision was made “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency.”

source: people.com