by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

December 5, 2023 – Queen Camilla, King Charles III, The Prince of Wales, and The Princess of Wales pose for a photograph ahead of The Diplomatic Reception

The Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in London, England is hosted to honor the foreign missions accredited to the Court of St James’s in London. Held in December, the event marks the start of the Christmas Season for the British Royal Family. It is the largest indoor event on the royal calendar, hosting about 1,000 Ambassadors, High Commissioners, their spouses, and other guests for drinks, dinner, and dancing.

What is the Court of St James’s?

The Court of St James’s is the official royal court of the British Monarch. St. James’s refers to St. James’s Palace, the senior royal palace in London, built by King Henry VIII in the 1530s. St. James’s Palace is still a working palace, and the Royal Court is still formally based there, despite the monarch residing elsewhere. The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, the Royal Collection Trust, the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Chapel Royal, the Gentlemen at Arms, the Yeomen of the Guard, and the King’s Watermen all have their offices at St. James’s Palace. Ambassadors from foreign countries to the United Kingdom are still accredited to the Court of St. James’s.

St. James’s Palace is the London home of several members of the British royal family and their household offices, and it hosts many receptions each year for charities associated with members of the royal family. The Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace has been used since King Henry VIII’s reign and is still used by the British royal family.

The State Apartments are used for entertaining during state visits, and for other ceremonial and formal occasions. The Accession Council meets in St. James’s Palace following the death of a monarch. The Proclamation of the New Monarch by the Garter King of Arms takes place from the Proclamation Gallery overlooking the Friary Court of St. James’s Palace.

Who attends the Diplomation Reception?

The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps coordinates the invitation list. Invitations are sent to all the Ambassadors and High Commissioners at the foreign missions in London, as well as past Prime Ministers, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, and other public figures. Spouses are included.

What is the dress code for the Diplomatic Reception?

Guests in various dress as they await the arrival of the royal family in 2017

For men, the dress code is national dress, white tie (evening dress), or court dress (knee breeches). For women, the dress code calls for national dress or long ball gowns.

What happens at the Diplomatic Reception?

During the Diplomatic Reception, the British Monarch, his/her spouse, and other royal family members host the guests in the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. First, there is a greeting line, followed by a drinks reception, and then a buffet dinner. After the buffet dinner, there is dancing in the Ballroom.

December 6, 2022 – King Charles III and Queen Camilla enter the Diplomatic Reception to a fanfare of trumpets

A fanfare of trumpets announces the arrival of the Monarch, accompanied by members of the royal family.

December 6, 2022 – King Charles III greeting guests in the greeting line

The Monarch and the members of the royal family greet all the guests. The guests in the greeting line are arranged by diplomatic precedence – their length of time in office. The longest-serving London diplomat, known as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, is first in the greeting line.

 December 11, 2019 – Catherine, then The Duchess of Cambridge, William, then the Duke of Cambridge, and Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, conversing with guests.

After the formal greeting line, royal family members circulate throughout the room during the drinks receptions, conversing with the guests. This is followed by two buffets. The first buffet is served in The State Dining Room, The Blue Drawing Room, and The White Drawing Room. The second is served in The Picture Gallery, The Green Drawing Room, and The Ball Supper Room. After the buffet dinner, there is dancing in the Ballroom.

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Works Cited

• Flantzer, Susan. (2021). Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London, England. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/chapel-royal-at-st-jamess-palace-in-london-england/
• Goodbody, J. (2024, January 22). All the dazzling diamonds from the diplomatic corps reception. Only Natural Diamonds. https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/rare/dazzling-diamonds-diplomatic-corps-reception-royal-family/#:~:text=Each%20November%20or%20December%2C%20the,from%20all%20over%20the%20world.
• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• The King and Diplomacy. The Royal Family. (n.d.). https://www.royal.uk/the-king-and-diplomacy#:~:text=The%20Diplomatic%20Reception%2C%20which%20takes,State%20Rooms%20at%20Buckingham%20Palace.