Have you seen any of the Royal Family up close?

I’ve just remembered that DD, her friend and I had afternoon tea at Highgrove.

I saw and took photo's of Diana, when she opened the newly built and refurbished hospital I worked at, she was lovely. I also saw the Queen at the same hospital, I was stood near the table which had been set up for her to sign the visitors book, she signed and looked at us all stood there and said "it just flows off the pen" to which there was stifled laughter......as has been said she is tiny, and Diana was tall. Only memories but good ones x

Mr.Gravy has just reminded me that we sat in the row behind Prince Charles in the Royal Enclosure at Party in the Park, he was very relaxed and friendly (especially when some of the pop group The Corrs came and sat with him for a while). Cherie Blair and her eldest two boys were seated five rows behind us.

I got asked "are you anyone special, as I do not think I have done your hair" by a celebrity hairdresser. I was tempted to say excuse me but should I know you???

When I was a child in the 1930s my parents and I were sitting on a seat in the Tate Gallery when my mother said “What lovely stockings that woman is wearing”. She turned round and it was Marina, Duchess of Kent. She smiled and said thank you.
During the war I was stationed just outside Windsor so saw a lot of the royalCycling along the road when the King’s car drove very fast past me knocking me Ito the ditch. Didn’t stop to see if I was Ok.
An RAF friend had to go to the castle to teach the princesses the morse code. My husband was in the Grenadier Guards when Princess Elizabeth was Commander in Chief and she used to inspect parades so he saw her close up.
During the late sixties we used to go to Sandown races in the winter. The Queen Mother was a regular visitor and she stopped and talked to my mother as we passed going into the Silver Ring.. she always wore a head scarf and boots.
My son received the Edinburgh award from the Duke himself. Said he had bad skin.

The earliest one - when WW2 ended the King and Queen did a tour of the country and came to my home town,
We were all lined up at the sides of the road and cheered every coal cart and lorry that passed, until at last they arrived..
Then when I was a student, '50s, the old Queen Mother came to open our new residential place, where I had a room. We all had to stand outside our rooms as she passed, and bob a curtsey. She spoke individually to everyone.

I’ve seen the Queen and Princess Anne and had a tour of Prince Charles Highgrove garden. My Dd has seen P Andrew and spent a day out opening things with Princess Anne when she (DD) was a Lord Leiutenants Cadet.

When I was a child I saw Queen Mary close up when she visited my town.
When I was at University the Duchess of Kent was installed as Chancellor. I was in the small choir who sang at the event, and later sang grace at the luncheon. As she was a singer she made a point of thanking us. N.B no posh lunch for us, we just got sandwiches.
The following year she presented me with my degree.

In 1953 I was in charge of a stand at the Rhodes Centenary Exhibition in Bulawayo, Rhodeisa. I was invited and attended a function at Government house and there saw and met The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

My Mum was introduced to Princess Diana. My father had just died and instead of flowers we had collected money and bought a set of hand bells for the local Mencap. On the day a new centre was opened, the young people played the bells and Mum was in pride of place. The following day it was announced that the princess was pregnant and my Mum was telling everyone that she knew, she’d guessed from the way Diana had looked! For my mother it was an extremely special moment at a very sad time of her life.

Where do I start. My grandchildren attended the Royal School in Windsor Park, and so there have been a few meetups. My grandson, aged 5 had a conversation with her, She used to attend special days like Mothers Day and Xmas, events by the school in the Royal ~chapel in the park, so both the children have seen her several times, and myself when attending these events. My GS won a poetry competition and he had to read it in front of an audience including the Queen, won, and received his prize from the Queen and a conversation. That's enough to go on.
Apart from the Queen, when a guide I saw P.Margaret; And when I lived in London I used to follow the events around.
Never sawDiana much to my sorrow. Seen Philip, Andrew!, Anne,And the dear Queen Mum when she visited the school I was teaching at. We are a very royalty supporting family. Oh yes, my daughter who lives in Windsor had an accidental face to face with the Queen when the car she was in came along a very narrow road where my daughter was about to get into her parked car. The Queens car was driving very slowly and my daughter waved with both hands frantically, the Queen laughed and waved back. Aren't we a lucky family!.

I've met the duke of Gloucester. He was opening our new HQ, he was very pleasant, he was accompanied by our senior person. I was asked to hand round refreshments & I thought, poor man everyone is so in awe of who he is noone is feeding him. So I very politly offered the platter of goodies & a small plate. I got a wide grin & he admitted to being starving &was hoping for some food. He asked if it was possible to have a glass of the orange juice instead of a hot drink (we always had cartons of it ready for the cadets) well, the wretched carton wasn't opening, my senior officers were getting hot under the collar, I had my scissors in my shoulder bag & was able to chop off the corner. He even helped, he said he'd heard that lancashire folk were friendly & we'd shown him a grand day. My daughters met princess Anne & said she was very impressed, she was extremely clued up, talked a lot of sense. She was chosen to be part of the guard of honour for HM & was surprised how petite she is.

Or Deeside - you’ll see them in Braemar or Ballater, or walking around one of the estates. Most people just leave them alone though (out of disdain or respect, depending on their leanings).

Come to Norfolk to see the Royal Family. See them walk to church at Sandringham at Christmas. People come from miles away - though we haven’t been for years! Kate shops in Holt and KingsLynn. Phillip walks round the estate - no driving now!!!

I made eye contact with Prince Philip once, when I was about 17. He waved at me from their car which passed close to me. I thought he was very handsome.
I've seen the Queen twice at fairly close quarters. She has lovely skin.
And Princess Anne once when she opened a charity shop in Torquay. She looked lovely, her photos don't do her justice.
My ambition is to see Charles and Camilla as I am a big fan
of theirs.

When my ex husband was in the army and we were posted to Germany, Prince Charles was Col in Chief of the regiment we were attached to. When he visited the Regiment he came into the officers mess and walked through the line of people there and shook our hands.

I haven't but my BiL worked at Buckingham Palace so him and my sister regularly saw members of the Royal family but I have had a bath in the Palace

I was in a park with my small daughter when a large helicopter landed. The passenger jumped out, rushed over to me and had a long chat. It was Prince Charles. He talked about his boys a lot. He was very charming. I met him formally a few years later and he immediately said that he’d met me before!

Ooh, just remembered.... Way back in the sixties I popped into Harrods to buy pastries to take home (I was working in Kensington) and a young woman about my age standing next to me pointed to the display and recommended I try a particular cake. I thanked her and said I would. She looked vaguely familiar, she was with another woman. It was only as I was paying I realised it was Princess Anne. I looked back in her direction but she'd moved on. The assistant smiled and said 'Yes you're absolutely right'.

Yes, saw the Queen at the Trooping of the Colour many years ago. She was close enough to touch as she left the parade ground. I was in awe of her beautiful skin and colouring. Also exchanged a few words with Prince Philip when he was sailing at Cowes one day, very pleasant, relaxed and ordinary.

When I was a child we were issued with little Union Jack flags and given the afternoon off school. Princess Margaret was passing through our village. We waited and waited and eventually a big black car swept past. We glimpsed a hand waving and that was it. So disappointing!

I have met and shaken hands twice with Princess Anne. She was so natural with a beautiful complexion. The first time we spoke for sometime. I know she did not recognise us next time but she did speak to our daughter who had been chosen to present a bouquet. Our daughter was thrilled.
I also met Prince Charles when he attended the 700th anniversary of our town's charter. I was not very impressed. He barely spoke to people in the line-up and seemed to be in a hurry to get away.

‘Curtsy or bow’

No...I’ve always gone out of my way to avoid them if necessary. I wound not curtsy it now to anyone. I’m as good as anybody.

Tidyskatesmum I hope you washed your hands thoroughly after shaking Thatcher’s hand. . My husband was a Train driver/ Instructor before he retired and was chosen three times to drive the Royals (considered an honour). Twice for the Queen and once for Princess Anne. They never even deigned to look at him let alone acknowledge him. I am not a monarchist although I suppose they do bring in the tourists!

I metxthe Queen when she opened the George Elliott Hospital at Nuneaton.I was a nursing student at the time.We were given sheet of paperxin how to address her.Jam as in Mam.She has beautiful skin a complete clear complexion