Each year, the Royal Family invites over 30,000 guests to a Garden Party to meet with people who have made a positive impact in their community. The most recent Royal Garden Party in Holyrood Palace included some special guests from Harris: our very own Kathleen Duce (Volunteer Centre Western Isles), Karen MacDonald (Bank of Scotland), and Tim Langley (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar).
The Garden Party guests were nominated by the Lord Lieutenant and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles. Kathleen, who is the Harris Development Officer for the VCWI, even got to speak with Queen Camilla about the amazing volunteering efforts which take place in our island community. The Queen Consort shared memories of her trips to the Western Isles and of our famous Harris Tweed.
It was not the first time Kathleen got to meet a Royal, however. As our eagle-eyed readers will have spotted already, our ‘Years Ago’ page looks back at another royal meeting - the visit of (then) Prince Charles and Princess Diana to Scalpay in 1985. Kathleen attended the event with her mum and siblings. You can read more about the royal visit on p24.
Royal Garden Parties are held over the summer at Buckingham Palace and at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Additional Garden Parties might be held to celebrate special events or charities. Historically, the events were debutantes’ presentation parties, but have evolved into a way of recognising public service.
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