Remembering the Queen’s Award

Posted by Patrick

October 16, 2008

Ann meeting the Queen When I was first asked to accompany the MD to Buckingham Palace, I was more surprised than anything but also flattered because, out of a staff team of around 25 people, it was a real compliment to be selected.

This all happened a few months ago, but perhaps it wasn’t until David Moore from the Queen’s Award office came out to meet Shared Interest this September that I began to run my mind over the events that preceded his visit.

If someone had said to me at the beginning of the year that I was going to meet the Queen face to face over champagne and canapés… well, I just wouldn’t have believed it.

But there I was, on July 14th, boarding the train to travel first class down to London. I was very excited so the journey passed quickly enough and at that stage, it all still didn’t seem quite real.

Perhaps it was the three month build up that added to the surreal element of the trip. After all, we were told Shared Interest had won the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development back in April and many of the team had already spent time focusing on and planning for our celebration event on 2nd July. To be invited to attend the official winners’ event the week following at the Palace was just the cherry on the cake and once I happily agreed to represent Shared Interest as one of the longest serving members of staff, alongside Patricia as MD, I just couldn’t wait to receive that invitation.

Every night, I’d get home and look on the doormat for an official-looking envelope. Then one evening, I forgot. Pushing the door straight open I looked down to see my shoe partially concealing a pristine cream envelope – pristine aside from my footprint. Dusting it down, I looked for the Royal seal and there it was, a bold red ER complete with crest. The invitation itself was just as impressive. I found a space in the living room to prop it up and stood back; seeing your name in print on an invitation to meet the Queen takes some getting used to!

Arriving literally weeks before we were due to go, the late invitations perhaps partly explain the continuing disbelief as we dropped off our bags at the hotel that hot, sunny day in July and made our way towards the Palace for the first time. The event didn’t start until 6pm but we wanted to visit the souvenir shop in advance. Such a special day needed some sort of commemorative gift. Choosing a Christmas tree decoration for me and official Buckingham Palace pens for the rest of the staff, we stopped off for a quick bite to eat before returning to the hotel to get ready.

I’d decided what to wear weeks beforehand and luckily the glorious weather meant that my lemon and cream outfit was just the ticket. One less thing to worry about! Saying that, I did actually surprise myself with how little I was worried. I wouldn’t describe myself as an extrovert by any means, and sometimes big social occasions can be nerve-wracking to say the least. So why, after all the anticipation, did this feel so normal? Perhaps that was the nicest thing of all.

We arrived at the Palace by taxi and showed our entry pass and passport. All attendees must have had checks run on them in advance because we moved towards the entrance to the Palace without any problems.

Waiting in line to meet the Queen and Prince Philip, I felt very calm. She looked as smart as ever and so petite. As she put out her hand to shake mine, she smiled. I noticed she was wearing black gloves in contrast to her usual stark white choice, and then in three seconds, it was over and she was greeting Patricia, then onto the next person and the one after that. All Queen’s Award winners retired to another room and began circulating amongst themselves. It all happened very quickly but was a very memorable experience.

Champagne and canapés glided in and out of the room on trays and I have to say that the chocolate pastries really did melt in your mouth. I have never tasted anything quite like them.

Some members of the Royal Household were mingling with the guests. Patricia and I were introduced to Lady Susan Hussey (Prince William’s godmother), as well as Anne Griffiths (Prince Philip’s archivist and librarian) and I noticed how many were well over retirement age. Obviously loyal and trusted staff, they continue working well into their sixties and seventies as they must be incredibly difficult to replace. Some of them stopped to chat and I was intrigued by their work, which clearly is their life.

Then, slowly but surely the Household staff and the Royals started to leave the room; before we knew it the event came to a close. There was no indication of being rushed to leave, so on the way out, Patricia and I began to soak up the atmosphere and really notice the grandeur of our surroundings. I walked down the sweeping staircase wondering how many people had graced these corridors and stairwells from all ages and eras.

Emerging from the Palace just after 8pm, we went for dinner and talked through our experience of the day. Both of us were glad to sit down after being on our feet for over two hours.
Back at the hotel, my feet were gladly given a well deserved rest as I popped them into the complimentary slippers and looked forward to some sleep after what really was a day that can truly be described as a ‘once in a lifetime’ type of event.