Palace Concert Party Problems

The Queen's Golden Jubilee Concerts
Fears that ticket touts are poised to make a bonanza outside the gates of Buckingham Palace at the two Golden Jubilee concerts to be held in 1 and 3 June are being addressed by anxious Palace staff. The Queen is anxious that only those who have applied for and received the 24,000 free tickets can actually use Touts are already boasting that they will have tickets for sale at between £200 and £1000 each. The Telegraph reports that Sir Michael Peat, Keeper of the Privy Purse and concert production manager Robbie Williams are to introduce the tightest measures to prevent tickets falling into the wrong hands.

Over 1 million hopefuls have already applied for tickets for the 1 June classical concert and the 3 June Pop concert. Lucky recipients will be notified by letter and asked to call a helpline to verify details personal details. Tickets will be sent out two weeks before the concerts. They will be matched against some form of ID at the Palace gate entrance on the night. Measures will also be taken against ticket counterfeiting.

Security Problems
Palace officials say that their system will make it virtually impossible for 'sold on' tickets to be used. "The system will mean that anyone thinking of buying a ticket [on the black market] knows they could spend a lot of money but then not be able to gain access," Mr Williams told the Telegraph, signaling a war of wits between Palace and touts who see a potentially lucrative market in the tickets. The verification of tickets will also be a part of the essential security precautions against the ever present possibility of a terrorist attack.

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Production manager Williams is no stranger to the logistical and security problems posed by these concerts organized in the 30 acre Palace grounds. As a former sound man for Pink Floyd he has been responsible for major concerts in Moscow's Red Square and the Louis XIV Palace of Versailles grounds outside Paris. An 80ft stage with clear plastic sides and back to give the audience unrestricted view of the gardens behind the performers will be erected to hold up to 400 performers and production crew, (which numbers 1600). The concerts are a historic first for the Palace and the prospect of a total of 26,000 people trampling over the lawns which must also take the feet of a further 24,000 invited to the Queen's annual summer Garden Parties in July must be a daunting prospect for the Head Gardener.