Heston Blumenthal feeds Jubilee revellers with picnic in Buckingham Palace

Monday, June 4, 2012
3:37 PM

Thousands of picnickers enjoyed a feast in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, ahead of tonight’s star-studded concert in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The grounds were filled with lucky ballot winners who have won tickets to the evening show.

A sumptuous picnic with food created by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal and the Queen’s royal chef Mark Flanagan.

Blumenthal is famous for his scientific approach to cooking while Mr Flanagan and his kitchen team catered for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding.

The gardens of the palace are used to hosting large garden parties in the summer and easily accommodated the 12,000 guests who will later watch the concert.

Out of those were 10,000 ballot winners and a further 2,000 people from charities associated with the Royal Family.

In bright summer sunshine the picnickers sat on the Queen’s lawn and opened their wicker baskets which contained tea-smoked Scottish salmon, a modern take on coronation chicken, and Sandringham strawberry crumble crunch.