A Day Like This by Elizabeth Cutler

My day started at about 6.3Oam when I jumped out of bed (that doesn’t often happen, I usually roll out slowly), had my shower, dressed and checked that I had rail tickets, invitation, dress, and most importantly, my hat.

I removed the covers from around beloved and heard a grumpy “Go away” as I left the bedroom, made my way noisily down stairs in retaliation to his grumpiness, then went to make breakfast.

Our train was the 9.3Oam to London and Simon was picking us up at 8am. It takes half an hour from door to the station, but I am a nervous traveller, and told everyone that the train was the 9am, so that we could be there in plenty of time. If I am not on the platform twenty minutes before a train is due, then I am late!

I like to “people watch” whenever I travel anywhere and today I was being treated to some easy answers. Ladies were arriving in their finery carrying large hatboxes and husbands in smart suits or morning suits. I knew all these people were heading to the same place as me. The platform was buzzing with happy people, admiring others’ outfits, asking what they would be doing before and after the event. At last the train arrived and our journey to the capital began. I could now relax and start to enjoy my special day.

On arrival at our hotel I got my outfit out, removed all the tissue paper and rescued my hat from its box. After eating a much-needed lunch, as I hadn’t been able to eat my breakfast due to excitement and nerves, I had a nice soak in the bath.

My outfit was a burgundy dress with a cream lace long scarf, going over my left shoulder, held in place with an amethyst stone broach. My hat, shoes and handbag were all cream, and my beloved was wearing a matching burgundy tie.

Time came to make our way to our destination. Upon arriving in the foyer of the hotel the “Door Man” knew exactly where we were going and ordered a taxi for us.

We crawled our way through the streets of London until at last we came to Buckingham Palace. My husband helped me out of the car and I felt like royalty myself at that moment. I knew there would be about 8,000 other people at the Palace that afternoon, but for a few moments, as I looked around me I was on my own, this afternoon was going to be MY “fifteen minutes of fame”.

We walked slowly though the Palace to the gardens at the back, I wanted to soak up the atmosphere and look at the hall, magnificent in its gold and red decor. We went though the doors leading to the gardens and found ourselves standing at the top of the steps, with the splendid view of the gardens before us, these were the steps our beloved Queen would be standing on at 3pm, where she would listen to the National Anthem being played before coming down to meet her guests. There was a Marquee where teas would be served later, plus two bands playing for the enjoyment of the people wandering round the gardens.

I wanted to see as much of the gardens as I could, I like to pinch ideas for my own garden, albeit on a very very much smaller scale. As we wandered round, I spotted Sir Edward Heath and William Gaunt, an actor, and even people from our hometown that we knew.

True to form the British weather didn’t let us down and we had a shower of rain. Luckily I had taken my umbrella. It was a large one with MacMillan Cancer Relief written on it. The reason I had had my invitation to the Garden Party was because I was chairman of the fund raising group in my hometown. I felt we all should have been there but as I was the only one with the invite I felt very proud and humble to be the committee’s representative.

Just before 3 o’clock people started to get themselves into lines, as a member of the Royal party goes down a line of people and stops at intervals to talk to guests as they pass. That afternoon Prince Philip and Prince Charles joined the Queen in meeting the chosen few. The Queen was wearing a lemon dress trimmed in white with a matching hat, plus the customary handbag.

The walk about can take about an hour or more, so you can go and get your tea at anytime as the party ends at 5 o’clock prompt. There are sandwiches, cakes and a choice of drinks. The iced coffee is to be recommended.

The ladies outfits were wonderful, all the various designs of hats and dresses, the different colours, bright, dark, light and the very eye-catching. The people from the African Nations in their National costumes, all adding to the tapestry of colour that was burning itself into my brain to be remembered for years to come. (No cameras were aloud inside the Palace so my eyes had to take all the pictures I wanted of the time spent in the Queen’s back garden).

We met the Bishop of our diocese and I felt proud when my husband explained why we were there.

At 5pm, we left the Palace through the front entrance and we both must be on a lot of holiday photos of people who were standing outside waiting for well-known faces to appear. We walked back to the hotel though Hyde Park, me carrying my shoes and walking on the grass, to ease my poor feet that had been suffering in dressy shoes. (What we women will suffer for fashion!)

That was MY day and I will remember it forever!

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