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Her
Royal Highness was also the Patron of London in Bloom, a competition which
awards prizes to gardens, both public and private and to towns, boroughs
and cities deemed to have the best flower displays.
That
balmy day in July 1997, Her Majesty was to meet Helen, the winner of Best
City Courtyard Garden and me, awarded a Silver Gilt medal for my entry in
the window box and hanging basket competition at The Chelsea Flower Show! |
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Helen
had moved to the garden to welcome Her Majesty and I had been left in the
lounge to be introduced. Suddenly,
there was a commotion as ladies in waiting wafted through the house to the
garden and there I was alone, when in came The Queen Mother.
I gave my practiced curtsey and she gave me a lovely smile.
What struck me was her beautiful violet-blue eyes –just like
Elizabeth Taylor! She also
wore the most huge, sparkling diamond brooch!
The Queen Mother was so kind and sweet, I babbled on about what an honour it was to meet
her etc. Then Helen’s father said he would take a photo.
Suddenly the flash went off as I was looking at Her Majesty.
The Queen Mother turned to me and said with a gentle smile “my
dear, you must look at the camera, you will want to have your face in the
photograph”. What a gracious lady.
After
a few moments we moved to the garden.
Helen had, in a rush to get the garden spruced up, mulched her
flower beds with cocoa shell to make it look neat – but the smell!!
Of course, no one said anything about the pong!. Then, after
ten minutes, it was time for the Royal party to be moving on to meet the
Docklands Development people. |
