MCIA’s Karen Cole attended a Buckingham Palace garden party in June and took her right-hand woman, Jenny Luckman, as her guest.
There are only three garden parties held at the palace each year and their purpose is to recognise and reward those who have made a positive impact on their community.
Although it is not known who nominated Karen for attendance, it is likely to have been for her work improving motorcycle safety, a role in which Jenny plays a major part.
Karen’s work has been recognised several times over the past few years but she said it was a once in a lifetime experience: “It was such a special afternoon, with lovely weather. We were all dressed up in our finery, yet the atmosphere was extremely relaxed and quintessentially English, as we sat on the lawn eating ice-cream and drinking lemon barley. Not quite like my normal working day.”
The palace gates opened at 3pm and the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh entered at 4pm, when the national anthem was played. As the band continued to play, the royals circulated, and Jenny Luckman, pictured left, found herself chatting with the Duke. Find out what he said in the next issue of BDN.