LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - In a break with tradition, people
will be charged to enter the gardens of Queen Elizabeth's London
residence where a trade fair and series of concerts will be held
to commemorate the 60th anniversary of her 1953 coronation.
Members of the public are regularly treated to the large
green space behind the imposing Buckingham Palace, but they
usually go free either as invited guests to garden parties or on
special occasions like the Diamond Jubilee picnic earlier this
year.
But next July, up to 60,000 visitors will be able to enter
the gardens if they manage to buy tickets to a trade fair
organised by the Royal Warrant Holders Association (RWHA) which
decides which companies receive the coveted Royal Warrant.
The Coronation Festival will be held from July 11-14, and
people wanting day tickets to visit trade stalls set up in the
palace gardens will pay 30 pounds ($48) while those wanting to
attend one of three evening galas will pay 90 pounds each.
There will be no concessions and tickets go on sale from
Dec. 16. The July 11 events are by invitation only.
"This will be the first time we've run an event of this kind
in the gardens of Buckingham Palace," David Walker, Master of
the Royal Household, told reporters at a briefing held at the
palace on Tuesday.
Asked whether the royal family should be charging people to
use the garden, he added: "This has got to stand on its own two
feet commercially and is a very expensive event to stage."
Companies with the royal seal of approval must pay to have a
stall at the fair, and RWHA secretary Richard Peck said the
event was designed to celebrate innovation and excellence in
British industry and to boost exports and investment.
"We want to dispel this myth that craft has no relevance in
modern industry," he said. "In fact, it underpins modern
industry."
Walker said he could not say which royals would attend the
concerts, but that there was a "reasonable expectation" that
members of the family would be present.
Asked which performers would take the stage, he replied:
"There will be some very big names."
He added that the ticket prices were in line with comparable
events, and that any profit would be shared between the royal
household, the RWHA and Media 10, the private events company
helping to stage the fair.
The royal family would invest its profits in up to 10
apprenticeships in British industry.
The Coronation Festival is one of several events likely to
be staged for the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's
coronation in Westminster Abbey.
But they are unlikely to match the scale of this year's
nationwide Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking her accession to
the throne on the death of her father King George VI which were
attended by millions of people.