On Sunday 12 June, the Queen will be joined by 10,000 guests to celebrate her 90th birthday in what has been billed as the "biggest street party" the nation has ever seen. Speaking to HELLO! and other reporters, Her Majesty's eldest grandson Peter Phillips, who helped organise the event through his company SEL, said that the monarch is "really excited".
Pick up your copy of HELLO! on Monday for all the details.
"She said, 'I've heard you're up to something.' The conversations I've had, she is really excited about it. She thinks it's a great idea," said Peter, 38.
The Queen thinks the colourful street party for her 90th birthday is "a great idea"
Thousands of people from the UK and Commonwealth will gather to attend The Patron's Lunch. Guests will be treated to a hamper-style lunch on The Mall, while live entertainment will include a carnival parade. Union Jack flags will also be flown, as is customary with momentous events in the royal family's calendar.
The party is being held to celebrate Her Majesty's patronage of over 600 charities and organisations. The not-for-profit event will raise money for the newly created Patron's Fund, which supports the Queen's charities in the UK and Commonwealth.
The Patron's Lunch will gather 10,000 guests for a hamper-style meal on The Mall
"She loves the idea that all these organisations are going to be brought together for the first time and there is going to be a celebration," said Peter. "It's a celebration of her patronage to all these organisations, but it's also a celebration of all these organisations and what they do for our communities around the country."
"The Mall has never hosted a traditional street party like this," he added. "It's had the Diamond Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee, which were full of people, which was fantastic and a great spectacle, but it has never actually had 10,000 people sat down to have a picnic lunch on it.
"Given that street parties are so very British, why wouldn't one of the most iconic streets in the country not have had one? It just fitted together very nicely."
"The Mall has never hosted a traditional street party like this," said the royal
Princess Anne's son has also come up with a wet weather contingency. "The design of the tables, we could have umbrellas up if we needed to," he said. "And we are also providing suncream and ponchos. There will be a certain element of Great British stiff upper lip."
Next month a public ballot will open where a minimum of 1,000 tickets, priced at £150 each, will be available to purchase via The Patron's Lunch website. Guests will be able to take their wicker hampers home, after enjoying their M&S sourced luncheon.
Pick up your copy of HELLO! on Monday for all the details.