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Millie: I screamed in
excitement!
Alex: We couldn’t believe we had been
selected. We had to re-read the email several times before it
actually sank in!
Very exciting! How did
Millie’s friends and pack react to the news?
Millie: They felt happy for me to go
and they couldn’t wait until I came back to tell them what it was
like to see Buckingham Palace and to meet Sophie, Countess of
Wessex and Lady Louise.
What else did you do
to celebrate the Brownie Birthday?
Millie: We decorated biscuits
with crown sprinkles and drew pictures which Brown Owl [leader of a
Brownie pack] has taken home and put on her wall.
What was it like to go to
Buckingham Palace?
Millie: Awesome! I felt very excited –
for my 8th birthday last year I asked if my grandmother would take
me to do the tour around Buckingham Palace as my present – I like
the Royal Family! So I knew how posh it is inside and outside – it
is astonishing! To be able to go inside as an invited guest was a
special memory.
The best part was going in the front
gates when all of the tourists were watching and wondering how we
were able to go inside! It was very weird being able to walk across
the courtyard and see the balcony where William and Kate stood and
waved to everyone on their wedding day. The cakes were also a
favourite part of the day…especially the Brownie Birthday Cake
which the Palace made for us.
Tell me more about
your day…
Alex: Millie and I left for London on
the train early in the morning of the 25th of June, and headed
straight to Brownie HQ for our official photographs. Then, as it
also happened to be my birthday, we treated ourselves to a very
special ice cream at Fortnum and Masons before making our way back
to the Palace for the official birthday celebrations to
begin!
We queued outside the Palace with the
other Brownies and their guardians waiting for the policemen to
check our tickets. It was very exciting making our way through all
of the tourists and actually being allowed through the big golden
gates! Crossing the courtyard we looked up and saw the balcony
where Kate and William waved to the nation – and at that moment
probably realised how lucky we were to be among the few people that
get to see Pall Mall from this side.
We were shown the way to the marquee
on the lawn in the Palace gardens and offered a drink and told to
enjoy the games that were laid out for us – giant Jenga, snakes and
ladders, Connect-Four, tennis, badminton, table tennis and more
that I can’t remember!
We were spoilt with lovely sandwiches
and home-made cakes and of course, the very special birthday cake
which Sophie cut with a little help from her Brownie
friends.
After official photographs on the lawn
with Buckingham Palace as our backdrop, our two hour visit had
finally come to an end and it was time to leave and make our way
home to Wales, having made new friends and with many happy memories
that will last for a very long time.
What was it like to meet The
Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise?
Millie: Great! They were both
very friendly and happy and seemed delighted to see everyone. They
joined in with the games on the lawn.
Alex: Sophie, Countess of Wessex,
Lady Louise and the tennis player Laura Robson came and joined in
the fun too, meeting all the Brownies and chatting to their
guardians. Lady Louise was also wearing her Brownie uniform and has
clearly enjoyed Brownies very much judging by all her
badges!
Millie has eight badges including
Brownie Holiday, Agility and Hostess, some of which Lady Louise is
likely to have as well!
Pictures: (cropped and attached)
first
direct and Defence
Images via photopin cc, and Alexandra
Leadley.]]>
