By special invitation - from the Queen

IT'S the most exclusive afternoon tea in England. It's held in a palatial garden that is closed to the public. It offers the opportunity to rub shoulders with movers and shakers. And it is free.

There's just one catch. You need an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II. No amount of blarney at the gate will get you in. The Buckingham Palace Garden Party draws ordinary citizens from around the country. Guests are chosen for their contribution to the community, from charity workers through civic dignitaries to veterans and members of the armed forces.

"I was surprised to get so close to the Queen," said Mary Wenman, a local councillor from Burry Port, in South Wales. The monarch passed within touching distance of Ms Wenman, who was invited for her part in helping to raise almost £300,000 (S$630,000) to restore the Burry Port Memorial Park. Not everyone is as deserving: I was invited as a member of the Association of American Correspondents in London.