Prince William Hosts Garden Party Amid Torrential Rain

The Prince of Wales braved torrential downpours at a Buckingham Palace garden party and quipped it was 'good weather for swimming'.

William was greeted by a sea of umbrellas when he hosted the summer event for his father, with the weather leaving some guests drenched and others sheltering in the tea tents.

Around 8,000 people were invited to one of the summer highlights of the royal calendar, including William's cousins, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Zara Tindall, with her husband Mike.

The young royals put on a show of support for the King today as they hosted a garden party in his absence.

Led by the Prince of Wales, making his first appearance at Buckingham Palace this summer, the glamorous party also included his cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall - accompanied by her husband, Mike - and Peter Philips.

William left with a children's book he pledged to read to Prince Louis at bedtime and a bag of freshly baked cookies from an RAF padre.

The prince, dressed in a top hat and morning suit, met Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmers Julie and Matthew Hall and let the husband and wife shelter under his umbrella.

The monarch often assigns responsibility for hosting one of the annual garden parties to family members, or allows them to organize one of their own for charities they are closely associated with.

Around 8,000 people were invited to one of the summer highlights of the royal calendar, including William's cousins, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Zara Tindall, with her husband Mike.

The prince, dressed in a top hat and morning suit, met Duchy of Cornwall tenant farmers Julie and Matthew Hall and let the husband and wife shelter under his umbrella.

William met guests from a number of his patronages, Homewards, the homeless project he launched last year, and members of the military.

The Tindalls spent much of their time chatting to members of the public waiting in the rain to catch a glimpse of the royals.