Today, there’s 116 recipients. I know – I counted them all in the programme during a guiltily idle moment. I have to admit it’s a little frustrating that one doesn’t know a bit more about each person stepping up to get the medal and the chat. ‘James Bloggs, for services to the Inland Revenue’ is all you’re given. Personally, I’d have welcomed a couple of lines in the programme adding a little more colour: how long was Mr Bloggs in his job, say? Where did he live? What were his hobbies? His favourite Dannii Minogue song? Anything. A couple more sentences would make all the difference when sitting there and trying to muster exactly the same attention for the 101st recipient as one had for the 1st.
But then, Charles and his attendants have to stand there too, and keep their attention unflagging throughout, for what must be the best part of an hour and a half. I suppose his military escort must be used to standing still and attentive for hours on end (Horse Guards Parade springs to mind). But it can’t be easy finding just the right questions to ask a tax worker from Hull for 30 seconds, knowing that the exchange will remembered and retold for the rest of their life.
On top of which, he must be aware that today he’s his mother’s stunt double, and that many of the honorees will surely be a little disappointed not to get the lady on the bank notes. I get the inkling he chats just that little bit more, and more informally, than The Queen would, as if by way of compensation. And he does it 116 times in a row, with unwavering interest throughout.
Here’s what Mum says about the chat (from a piece she wrote in her local village circular):
Prince Charles expressed a real interest in quilting… I later discovered that this was not just good manners on his part: he has recently bought a house in Wales and has an antique Welsh quilt on his bed and another on the wall in the hall.
In fact, weeks later, Mum receives two letters from the Prince. One to ask if he can get copies of her books (which she duly sends), then a thank you for doing so, with the hint of a possible commission… Seems HRH is truly interested in the craft, particularly the recycling and green-friendly elements, where Mum turns spare scraps of fabric into new patchwork quilts.
Back to the ceremony. When Ms Minogue enters to get her OBE, of course, everyone perks up. This occasion is all about being recognised by the British People, Government and Crown, but some are already more recognised than others. Celebrity or not, though, Ms M stands out, in a Tinkerbelle-like dress embossed with multi-coloured glittery stars.
Though neither does she flaunt her celebrity. According to Mum, while waiting she acts like any of the other recipients in the queue – modest, gracious, pleased to be there. It’s just that there’s a gaggle of media in the courtyard outside who focus on her rather than anyone else.
Another particularly stylish recipient is Jo Malone, founder of the cosmetics and fragrance company that bears her name. When I try looking ‘Jo Malone’ up on Wikipedia, I find out it’s also the name of Parker Posey’s character in ‘The Daytrippers’. It all links.
