Royal Bun Throwing Report - 15th September 2006

On 15 September 2006 the town of Abingdon continued the celebration of the 450th Anniversary of the Charter of Incorporation granted by Queen Mary in 1556 by holding the second bun throwing of the year in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.

At 11.30am HRH Princess Anne arrived in the market place and was greeted by schoolchildren from St Nicholas School who sang their 'Bun throwing song'. HRH then entered the old County Hall and after spending some time in the hall came out into the crowd to meet the local people.

After the National Anthem was played the Mayor and other local dignitaries threw down 450 buns to the crowds waiting in the market place beneath them.

Each of the 450 currant buns were marked with the initials 'PR' standing for Princess Royal.


In the rush to join in the catching our group was split into two, with the pair at the front left of the market place catching one currant bun, while the group in the centre failed to catch any.

15th September 2006 Bun Throwing – Update

According to the Oxford Mail (12th September) 450 buns will be thrown at the Bun Throwing event this Friday (15th September).

Although this is a relatively small number of buns in comparison to previous bun throws, the number 450 is very significant as each bun will represent one of the years of the 450th Anniversary of the Granting of a Royal Charter to the town.

This also means that the chance of catching a bun will be far lower than many previous events and competition amongst Abingdonians vying for the buns in the market place will certainly be fierce.

HRH Princess Royal visit and Bun Throwing - 15th September 2006

On Friday 15th September 2006 Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal will be visiting Abingdon as part of this year's celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the town's Charter.

As part of the 1 and a half hour long visit there will be a traditional bun throwing ceremony from the Old County Hall which will mark the Charter and borough status granted to Abingdon by HRH the Princess Royal's ancestor Mary Tudor.

The Princess Royal is due to arrive in the Market Place at 11.30am.

This is the second bun throwing ceremony of 2006, the previous event taking place on Saturday 10th June.

No details of the number of buns to be thrown are currently available, however it is possible that 4,500 may be thrown, as this is a multiple of 450 and was the number thought to have been thrown on 10th June.

Due to security reasons no cameras or other electronic devices will be permitted in the town centre for the duration of the visit.