The Queen cuts back Buckingham Palace garden parties In 2009, Mandrake reported that plans were afoot to scale back the gatherings, to which 8,000 guests from all walks of life are invited. "We must operate in a businesslike manner," a Palace spokesman said at the time. What is especially expensive is the rental of the marquees. The money made available for these events by the Civil List has remained the same for 20 years."" Lord St John of Fawsley, the constitutional historian, said the Queen "loved"" the parties, which were originally intended for debutantes, but were extended after the Second World War into the huge events. "Her Majesty would never countenance scaling them back except as an absolute last resort,"" he said. Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, whose wife is a lady-in-waiting to Princess Michael of Kent, said: "It makes me angry that people quibble over the money available for things like this."" Guests at the parties nibble their way through 420,000 cucumber sandwiches and cakes each summer. When, one year, silver-plated teaspoons were used with the Queen's head on them - instead of the usual plastic ones - 1,000 out of the 5,000 teaspoons disappeared. A Buckingham Palace spokesman confirms the plans. "Due to an exceptionally busy period with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, we have had to condense the garden party programme for this year," the spokesman says. We hope to run a full programme of garden parties in 2013.