There are certain emails you don’t expect to find in your inbox on a rainy Tuesday in January. An invitation from the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire to attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace is certainly one of them!
Much of my work in the creative arts and education is spent behind the scenes – creating content, long stretches of project development and planning CPD sessions. Shifting from that daily professional rhythm to the formal ceremony of a Palace Garden Party was a welcome, if slightly surreal, change of pace.
Tea, sandwiches & conversation
The afternoon followed a timeless protocol. Once King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived to a fanfare, we could enjoy the stunning gardens whilst the military bands played everything from traditional anthems to jazz arrangements and a West Side Story suite. And, of course, there was the famous afternoon tea – anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m a huge fan of tea, so I was in heaven! But the real highlight of the day was the people I met. I found myself in a queue for cake with charity founders, veterans, and community leaders – everyone loving the occasion and glad to be there.
A Moment of Recognition
It was an honour to be invited by the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire in recognition of my contribution to education and the arts. In the creative sectors, work is often a slow burn – years of project development, advocacy, and quiet persistence. Having that work acknowledged on a national level is a welcome moment of reflection. It’s a reminder that the initiatives we push for in our own regions are part of a much larger conversation about the value of culture in the UK.
The Garden Party was a beautiful celebration and I’m so pleased to have experienced it.
