Bev, Parent and Carer Forum Expert By Experiences Visit to Buckingham Palace
It’s not every day the postman delivers a royal stamped envelope through your letter box. An invitation to the Royal Garden party at Buckingham Palace. To say my husband and I were shocked is an understatement. What had we done to deserve such a special invite?
My husband became my career 10 years ago and has had huge support from Carers UK. he has spoken on the radio, TV and at the House of Commons on the difficulty carers face on a daily basis. I am on my second term as a governor within CWP (Cheshire and Wirral Partnership) and sit on various committees within the trust.
Being a part of the Level UP Parent and Carer Forum has allowed me to share my story as a parent of a child who was an inpatient and fight to make change. This has given me the opportunity to speak at events where I can express to clinicians what other parents have told me about their experiences and use my voice to make changes that are needed. To be recognised for this work is a huge honour and we both said that by attending the party, we are representing all carers and people who volunteer their time to assist in improving mental health awareness and care.
We arrived at Buckingham Palace along with 7000 other attendees and we were the very first people to enter. We sat in the garden; band playing and ate delicious sandwiches and cakes. His Royal Highness King Charles and Queen Camilla made an appearance on the top of the steps and were led down the lawn by Beefeaters. It was a magical sight to see and truly incredible to be apart off.
I went for a roll around the garden (wheelchair user) and saw my favourite royal, Princess Anne, who I have had the pleasure of meeting on numerous occasions.
Her assistant, who nearly backed into me, noticed my Level UP Community Champion badge alongside my Dementia and Rainbow badges. I talked about Level UP and was informed she would pass all the information I had told onto the Princess directly. Princess Anne thanked me for all the work that I had done and explained how she was excited to read all I had explained to her assistant with great interest. It was a good job that I was sat down otherwise I would've fallen over.
After a lovely day, we left the palace and headed home, but whilst crossing the road I fell out of my wheelchair. It could only happen to me on the busiest road in London whilst thousands of people are trying to leave the Palace. The Police and Military Medical Core were amazing, helping me up and checking me over. My husband said, “Some people will do anything to get a soldiers attention!”
I had taken pens and Level UP badges with me and never missing an opportunity, handed them all out. So many people asked me what the badges were for and I told them all with such pride about what they were for and what we do.
I hope I represented everybody well, despite stopping the traffic.
