It is hard to believe that this really happened, our day at Buckingham Palace was utterly amazing and one that non of us will ever forget, for me (Maria) it was slightly marred by the fact that my parents were unable to join us on the day. We were joined by our two daughters Abbie (17) and Isabella (15), Abbie's boyfriend John and Mark's mother all of whom looked stunning. It all started as we arrived at the Palace gates to be greeted with lots of tourists and photographers, feeling like celebrities we made our way past them and through the hallowed gates into the main courtyard, once inside the girls all took the opportunity to take a royal wee ( well you have too !) and very nice they were too ! seriously great people watching opportunity at this point seeing everyone dressed to the nines and all extremely excited.
Once at the top of the stairs Mark and I were separated from our family as we tool a right turn and they continued to take their seats in the Great Hall and listen to the delighted chamber music of the orchestra playing in the gallery.
Once Mark and I arrived upstairs, we received small pins on our lapels for Her Majesty the Queen to pin our awards on to. Then we were given the chance to look at some of the great works of art which adorn the walls of the fabulous reception rooms, we also had the chance to chat to some of the other recipients and feel very humbled in the presence of some very great and delightful people.
A large screen had been set up with camera showing us what was happening in the Great Hall and where we could try and locate our families, at this point I was very grateful for Izzy's stripy dress which made it much easier to spot them! All in all around 100 were receiving their awards with us although ours being a double award for us both was and is quite unusual, we were all instructed on what we had to do with a quick run through and then Mark and I were singled out to step into another room and practice our steps making sure that we counted them in unison, terrified we would forget them all of a sudden our names were called and we set off on the long hike to the Great Hall, passing through the back of it as we went, which meant we could see the family and they knew we were on our way. Behind us was Mark Cavendish also receiving his MBE and we chatted nervously as we waited our turn.
We strode up to Her Majesty, managing to keep in step, not fall over or do anything daft, turn, two steps forward and there we are, stood for the second time in my life in front of our Queen, taking the moment in we exchanged a few words, which seemed to go for a lifetime, she was utterly delightful asking about our business and congratulating us both, not feeling at all rushed, the signal to end the conversation came as the Queen extends her hand to shake it and we took the two steps back, turn and walked onwards together. We did it !
Back in the hall, with our awards in lovely boxes for safe keeping, we caught the eye of our daughters as we passed and almost lost it at that point ! but British stiff upper lip and concentrating on the proceedings where we could now sit back and watch the rest of the recipients in relative calm.
Before long it was over and we headed out to the quadrangle where photographers were at the ready to take our pictures and we could finally meet up with our family.
We polished the day off with lunch at the Ritz Hotel, a treat all round and one that was perfectly befitting the occasion, although I am not so sure Abbie will ever be persuaded to eat a frogs leg again, I don't ever imagine a day that will surpass this one and it is one to treasure.
