QUEEN CANCELS GARDEN PARTIES

The Queen has cancelled all garden parties in London and Edinburgh for a second consecutive year. Work would soon have begun on drawing up guest lists for 30,000 people. Around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed at each garden party, said to cost a combined US$680,000 a year. Four parties normally take place each May, as a way of thanking those who serve charities, as well as members of the military and diplomatic communities.