It’s true……on the day our President Nick Wynn Williams attended Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen another Nick on the guest list was turned away. That was Nick Griffin controversial leader of the BNP who managed to get lots of media attention as a result.
Meanwhile, back at the Palace our President reports that a most convivial time was had by all. Here is his account of the proceedings:-
“There are occasions when I am reminded what a privilege it is to represent members of Wolverhampton Law Society as President. One such occasion occurred on the 22nd of July.
A few weeks before I had received an envelope from an address at SW1A within which was contained a card stating that the Lord Chamberlain was commanded by the Queen to invite me and my wife Beth to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 22nd July. Beth had a new Hat and Dress before I could even check that my best suit was in good order.
We arrived at the Grosvenor Gate at 3pm that afternoon. Despite threats of rain the sky promised a fresh and sunny afternoon. We followed the signs to the Garden Party along the winding paths at the back of the Palace and entered the Gardens to the sound of two Military Bands.
Although there were some 8,000 guests everyone was comfortably contained within the 40 acres of Garden. We took the opportunity to explore taking in the Lake and Island at the Grosvenor Place end before taking a closer look at the West Terrace. The Garden was furnished with some superb ornaments from visiting Dignitaries.
Tea was served in the Main Tea Tent. Despite the numbers we did not have to queue for long and the service was a great example of the efficiency of the Royal Household. The sandwiches were fresh and the cakes were nothing short of majestic particularly the Victoria Sponge. Quite where the food kept coming from was a mystery but the caterers must have served the 8,000 guests more than twice over. Even the cup of tea was the best cuppa I have had in a very long time.
At 4pm the National Anthem announced the arrival of Her Majesty the Queen and Members of the Royal Family and we could just see her appear on the Western Terrace. The Gentleman at Arms then parted the guests like the Red Sea to enable the Queen to move through the garden to the Royal Tent. It was a hot day but the Queen must have spent a good hour talking to those who were presented to her and showed genuine interest in everyone she met. She must have been gasping for a cup of tea by the end but she never showed any signs of flagging.
Tea was then served in the Royal Tent and we were able to take seats nearby. Perhaps it was a little like going on Royal Safari but it was fascinating to watch members of the Royal Family, various Dignitaries and Diplomats taking their afternoon tea and it again gave first hand experience of just how hard the Queen works.
After Tea the Queen took another tour of the garden with the Yeoman of the Guard before departing to the sound of the Band playing the National Anthem. We were then allowed to follow her out leaving the palace by the front Door giving us an opportunity to peek at some of the State Rooms all of which were a study in opulence. As we left we literally bumped in to Tim Ewart of ITN News who was giving the breaking News of Nick Griffins’ revoked invitation!
It was a fantastic experience and one that I shall remember for a long time.”
