Tea with the King 'very surreal' for Coronation champion Lianne
She was named one of 500 Coronation champions in the country
The founder of a group that has been helping some of the most vulnerable people in Cambridgeshire said she is struggling to come to terms with the fact she is due to see King Charles III today.
Lianne Simpson, founder of Diamond Hampers CIC based in Huntingdon, was invited to The King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace after being named as one of the country’s 500 Coronation champions.
Around 5,000 nominations had been submitted for the event, but for Lianne, she is in a state of shock.
“I’m going for tea with the King; it’s very surreal, but I’m looking forward to it,” she said.
“Not only will the King be there but other members of the Royal Family, there’ll be a band so it’s something not quite like I’ve done before.”
Lianne helped set up Diamond Hampers in 2019, which has since been providing and delivering emergency food hampers to families and individuals seven days a week across Cambridgeshire.
Since 2019, around 425,000 meals have been distributed by the group to people in the county, while in the last four years, more than £500,000 of food that would have been stored in landfill has created 670,000 meals.
"I don't think it will be quite real until I'm there"
The organisation has two stores which provide affordable food, clothing and essential homeware and hygiene products, as well as teaming up with external agencies to help those in need.
“We work to make referrals to external agencies to build longer-term solutions that would see them no longer require emergency intervention,” Lianne said.
She is due to meet the King and The Queen Consort alongside other members of the Royal Family this afternoon at the garden party, which also boasts music performed by two military bands.
And for Lianne, thought to be one of eight Coronation champions in Cambridgeshire, the fact she will be in the presence of royalty is still surreal.
“When I received the invitation, I cried; it’s a huge honour and I don’t think it will be quite real until I’m there,” she said.
“I had been invited by the then Duchess of Cambridge to a ceremony at a Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey in 2021 and thought that was best thing I ever had privilege of being at.
“But I think this might tip the edge.”
By being at the garden party, Lianne hopes she can represent the hard work her team have been doing to help those needing urgent support.
“I would love to be given opportunity to spread awareness of what we do and the impact we’ve had (on local community),” she added.
“But just to be there, not just for myself but to show the invaluable work my team do and everything everybody else gives as well.”