Nigel’s VERY Special Day

Everyone has wanted so much to hear about Nigel’s visit to Buckingham Palace that we’ve decided to bring you his story in a slightly reverse order …. as we can’t wait any longer to share his story with you either ….. especially with our very dear friend Dianne in Florida who loves EVERYTHING of an English type nature and comments every day from all those 1,000’s of miles away.

Nigel decided to stay true to his roots and travel to the Palace by underground …. and refused all talk of a limos or black cabs.

He was cool as a cucumber ……

….. until he was actually outside the Palace waiting in the line to have his passport robustly checked by the policemen in charge of security ….

….. and that’s when he knees began to knock …..

…… as he walked through the gates,  knowing that all eyes were on him as he proceeded across the forecourt,  wondering who he was!

And then through the large arched passage way into the quadrant. He had to pinch himself over and over again …. this was where we had all watched Kate and William draw up in their carriage on their Wedding day …. and now he was there in person…… it was all too surreal.

There was another long queue to join, before actually going into the Palace, with Nigel being acutely aware that he needed to drink everything in from the carpets and curtains, to the furniture, wondering if the Queen ever London Lounged on the mahoooosive settees, waiting for one of her carriages to pick her up and to take her to the Royal Variety Performance, to the cabinets full of posh plates and ornaments  that had definitely not been collected at car boot sales.

….. And then into the garden,  where immediately in front of him was Anne Widdecombe!  Now,  it was said that mobile phones were not to be used, however everywhere Nigel looked pictures were being taken and posed for and so he decided that perhaps it would be OK for him to have a few discrete pictures taken, without drawing attention to himself or pointing the lens at people of import.

Nigel had never expected to be presented to Her Majesty The Queen, although we had teased him about it,  so the biggest  shock of the afternoon was when an Equerry came up to him and asked if he would like to meet Prince Andrew …. OMG!  The Equerry said that if he waited a little in the area in which he was standing that the Prince would come over and talk to him …. OMG, OMG ….. and he did! 

Obviously we cannot disclose what was said …. but Nigel said that the Prince had a very firm handshake and was utterly charming, funny and self depreciating, even tapping Nigel on his shoulder as he moved on!

Nigel also came within a whiskers breathe of The Queen,  who was wearing pink and who smiled radiantly,  Prince Philip, Princess Anne and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice …… as they went to the Royal Tea Tent.

At which point, after so much excitement Nigel decided that it might too be an opportune moment for him to avail himself of the Tea Tent ……(several times!) It was all too wonderful …. and as Nigel put it, to judge it on our Richter Scale of noms would be an insult ….. neigh …. a treasonable offence!

It was a very special afternoon ….. with two bands filling the air with wonderful music ….. and Nigel being able to wander freely round the beautiful gardens and lake …..

It was a day he (and we)  will never forget …… a day that only comes once in a lifetime, if you are very lucky  ….. a day to treasure ….. a day of true awe and wonder…… Nigel was truly blessed in a very Tatler magazine type way!