I was thrilled to attend Windsor Castle on Tuesday for my investiture – receiving the MBE from the Queen in person. We didn’t know that it would be the Queen for sure, but someone pointed out that the Royal Standard was flying and therefore surely Her Majesty was at home!
It was clearly a well rehearsed occasion – from the confiscation of all mobile phones and cameras at the entrance, then being split from the guests, and finally (after chatting to other recipients) lining up in a relatively silent queue prior to entering the chamber. I worried (too much) about what I would say to the Queen, and then it was all over bar the photographs! There was a small opportunity to visit the state chambers, through which I had queued, and then outside into a gloriously sunny April day.