There was no trace of a crust on the cucumber sandwiches, the Yeomen of the Guard lined the lawns and the Band of the Royal Marines played the National Anthem on the stroke of 4pm. So far, so very Buckingham Palace Garden Party.

Except that, in one direction, I spotted TV presenter Maya Jama telling the King about filming ‘snogs’ in Spain. ‘It’s a reality show called Love Island,’ she explained.

‘There’s one born every minute,’ the King chuckled. Nearby, supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was ‘very touched’ after the Queen complimented her on her new range of M&S lingerie.

In among the crowds I spotted, variously, actor Toby Jones, presenter Bradley Walsh, comedian Sir Lenny Henry, newsreaders, directors, painters and both the current and former director-general of the BBC.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla host the garden party at Buckingham Palace yesterday

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King Charles speaks with Maya Jama and Campbell Addy at Buckingham Palace yesterday

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Charles speaks with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at The Creative Industries Garden Party

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Queen Camilla meeting Sir Lenny Henry during the Sovereign’s Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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King Charles III speaks with Tess Daly and Vernon Kay during the Buckingham Palace party

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King Charles and Queen Camila walk during the Creative Industries Garden Party

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Guests attending The Sovereign’s Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Queen Camilla talks with Dame Arlene Phillips (centre) during the garden party

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King Charles greets guests during the Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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King Charles meets guests during the Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

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Maya Jama attending The Sovereign’s Creative Industries Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London in celebration of the Creative Industries of the United Kingdom

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Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer arrives at the Buckingham Palace garden party yesterday

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King Charles charms model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley as he and Camilla make surprise appearance at Buckingham Palace garden party – the monarch’s 5th engagement in 48 hours

Entirely absent was the usual mix of mayoral chains, military uniforms, dog collars, fruit-heavy hats and Sunday bests which usually proliferate at a Palace garden party. That’s because yesterday’s event honoured the arts – and not just the famous names. This was also a party for the backstage sweats, special effects geeks and the donors, too.

Overall, it meant a rather more bohemian vibe in the Palace grounds. One man had arrived in a skirt – and it was certainly not a kilt.

As noteworthy as the enthusiasm with which our convalescing King was energetically gladhanding strangers for well over an hour was the very fact that this party was happening. For here was another of those indicators of the way