Australian High Commission

United Kingdom

High Commission address: Australia House, Strand, London WC2B 4LA

ROYAL EVENTS 2012

Applications for Royal Events in 2102 have now closed.
Information for Royal Events in 2013 will be posted on this page in January 2013

Each year the Australian High Commission receives an allocation of invitations to Royal Events – Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot Race Meeting and Royal Garden Parties.

Only Australian citizens who are visitors/temporary residents in the UK, intending to return to Australia, are eligible to apply.

Due to the limited number of invitations, you can only apply for one Royal Event.

A ballot system is used in the allocation process. Advice will be sent to successful applicants only.

Please read through the following information carefully before filling out the application form. If you do not fill out your form correctly your application will be rejected.

MARITAL STATUS

Married couples should use the same application form. Information regarding children is given in the section Conditions for Each Royal Event, below.

Unmarried couples should use separate applications which can be cross-referenced so they can attend a Royal Event together.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR ROYAL ASCOT AND ROYAL GARDEN PARTIES

• One letter of recommendation is required for each application for Royal Ascot and two letters of recommendation are required for each application for a Royal Garden Party. Letters of recommendation cannot be returned to applicants.

• Letters of recommendation are an important part of your application. They should provide a character reference and confirm your suitability to attend Royal Events. They must include full contact details for your referee and should be addressed to the Royal Events Secretary. If letters of recommendation do not meet these requirements or are poorly presented, your application will be rejected.

• Letters of recommendation should be from prominent or professional Australian citizens who have known the applicant at least two years, e.g. Members of Parliament, Justices of the Peace, public servants, military personnel, doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers. Letters from members of the applicant's immediate family and employment references are not acceptable.
• Letters of recommendation should be submitted with your application.

• Married couples do not need separate letters of recommendation but the letters must refer to both husband and wife.

APPLICATIONS TO AGENTS GENERAL

Applications can be made with either your Agent General (South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, or Western Australia) or the Australian High Commission. Applicants who apply to both will be disqualified.

CANCELLATIONS

Please do not apply for a Royal Event if there is any possibility you won’t be able to attend. If you cannot attend you must notify this office by email (see below) as soon as possible and return your invitation to this office.

CONTACT ADDRESSES

Please notify this office by email (see below) of change of address and/or telephone number. Applicants who cannot be contacted will be disqualified.

CONDITIONS FOR EACH ROYAL EVENT

TROOPING THE COLOUR

If you have previously attended a Trooping the Colour Ceremony you cannot apply again.

Trooping the Colour ceremonies are held between 11.00am and 12.30pm at Horse Guards Parade opposite St. James's Park. You are required to be seated at 10.00am. Security checks will be in operation.

The Colonel's Review (9 June) is a dress rehearsal which the Queen does not attend. The Queen's Birthday Parade (16 June) is attended by the Queen.

Successful applicants only will be advised by letter in April.

Tickets are limited to two per family. Children and babies must have a ticket as seating does not allow space for children to sit on their parent's knees.

The dress required for men is a lounge suit or armed services uniform (although dress slacks and blazer is acceptable) and for women a day dress. No jeans or denim is permitted. Cameras and video cameras are permitted.

ROYAL ASCOT RACE MEETING (ROYAL ENCLOSURE) 19 - 23 June

Applications are restricted to immediate family: husbands, wives and children – (unmarried sons and daughters aged 17 to 25 years inclusive). Children aged 10 to 16 may accompany adults who have Badges on Friday and Saturday only. An application is not necessary, children's Badges can be obtained free of charge from the racecourse on the day. Children under the age of 10 will not be admitted.

Alternatively, Australian citizens with an eligible sponsor may apply through the Royal Enclosure office, for more information go to http://www.ascot.co.uk/?page=Royal_Ascot&altcss=true

Each application must have one letter of recommendation. (Refer to Letters of Recommendation).

Successful applicants only will be mailed a "Badge Request Form" from Australia House in late May. Badge Request Forms must then be sent to the Royal Ascot Office with payment, indicating the day(s) you wish to attend. Badges give admission to the Royal Enclosure.

Ladies Day is on the Thursday of the meeting.

Royal Enclosure Dress Code revised for 2012

Ladies
Formal day wear is a requirement in the Royal Enclosure, defined as follows:
♦ Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer;
♦ Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater;
♦ Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code;
♦ Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour;
♦ Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.
♦ Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted;
♦ Midriffs must be covered;
♦ Fascinators are no longer permitted in the Royal Enclosure; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm).

Gentlemen
It is a requirement to wear either black or grey morning dress which must include:
♦ waistcoat and tie (no cravats); and
♦ A black or grey top hat; and
♦ Black shoes

A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility’s terrace, balcony or garden. Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden.

The customisation of top hats (with, for example, coloured ribbons or bands) is not permitted in the Royal Enclosure.

Children (admitted on Friday and Saturday only)
Girls (aged 10-16) should be dressed for a formal occasion. Smart summer dresses are suggested. Hats, headpieces or a fascinator may be worn but are not compulsory.

Boys (aged 10-16) should either dress in accordance with the gentlemen’s dress code (as set out above); or alternatively may wear a dark-coloured lounge suit with a shirt and tie (whereupon no hat is required).

Overseas Visitors
Overseas visitors are welcome to wear the formal National Dress of their country or Service Dress.

Serving Military Personnel
Serving military personnel are welcome to wear Service Dress or equivalent.

Cameras are not permitted in the Royal Enclosure. Car parking is available at the racecourse at approx £24.00 per day and can be booked when you lodge your "Badge Request Form".

Married couples should note that Badges are normally issued in the husband’s name e.g. Mr William Smith and Mrs William Smith.

ROYAL GARDEN PARTIES

Applications for Royal Garden Parties in 2012 have now closed. The following is provided for information only

If you have previously attended a Garden Party you cannot apply again.

Applications are restricted to immediate family: husbands, wives and up to two children – unmarried sons and daughters aged 18 to 25 years inclusive. Children under 18 cannot be considered. Each application must have two letters of recommendation. (Refer to Letters of Recommendation).

Successful applicants only will be notified in April.

The Garden Parties take place in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and Holyroodhouse Edinburgh, normally between the hours of 4.00pm to 6.00pm.

The majority of men wear morning dress or uniform but a dark suit is acceptable. Women are required to wear a day dress with hat or uniform, trousers suits are permitted. Cameras are not permitted and mobile phones must be switched off.

In a change to previous practice, married women can use their own name e.g. Mr William Smith and Mrs Susan Smith or Mr William Smith and Miss/Ms Susan Jones.

Two forms of ID are required for entry to a Garden Party, e.g. driving licence, passport.

SUBMITTING APPLICATION FORMS

• Please include self addressed envelopes (postage not required) as described on each application form. Applications which don’t have envelopes will be rejected.

• Royal Garden Parties and Royal Ascot Race Meeting: applications must have correct Letters of Recommendation (see above).

• Royal Ascot Race Meeting: If you have not previously been issued with a Royal Enclosure Badge by the Australian High Commission, your application must include a photocopy of the front page of your Australian Passport (to show photograph, signature and passport details).

• Please return the completed application to:

Royal Events
Public Affairs Branch
Australia House
Strand
London WC2B 4LA

Due to security restrictions you cannot hand deliver/courier deliver your application to the High Commission. It must be received by mail as above.

• Further enquiries can be directed to GeneralEnquiries.LhLh@dfat.gov.au

• Please read all of the above information before you send an email enquiry. Emails which enquire about information which is included on this page will not receive a response.

• Please do not contact this office to confirm receipt of your application. If you are concerned about postal services we advise you to send your application by recorded or registered mail to ensure delivery.

Click on the links below to download application forms

ROYAL ASCOT RACE MEETING (Royal Enclosure Badge) 19 – 23 June

One day admission: £93.00 / Five day admission: £350.00

Juniors (17–25 years incl):
One day admission: £66.00 (Tues–Fri); £38.00 (Sat)
Five day admission: £227.00

Children (10 – 16 yrs incl): Fri/Sat only, admission free

Closing Date for applications is 27 April 2012