A couple from Hitchin have received the prestigious honour of being invited to celebrate the coronation of King Charles at his first official Buckingham Palace Garden Party this week.

Hundreds of people were invited to attend Buckingham Palace just a few days before the coronation on Saturday.

Traditionally, the Garden Parties are a way for the Royal Family to speak to a broad range of people who have made a positive impact in their community.

Sophie Bichener and her partner, former Hitchin Boys' School head boy Alex Coles attended the prestigious event.

Sophie Bichener and her partner, former Hitchin Boys' School head boy Alex Coles at the event.

Sophie was nominated by the Government Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to attend as a campaigner for her work with the campaign End Our Cladding Scandal and Hertfordshire Cladiators.

These groups have campaigned for over four years for building safety and the removal of unsafe cladding after the Grenfell Tower fire highlighted many serious and life-threatening fire safety defects in thousands of buildings up and down the country.

Through no fault of their own, the people who own flats in these buildings have been left with life changing bills, some of over £200k per resident, to remove the dangerous building materials and add vital fire stopping blocks. Building owners (freeholders) have been refusing to fix the buildings - some even refusing Government funding to do so - leaving residents stuck in dangerous homes.

Sophie told Nub News: "The day was so enjoyable. We've never visited Buckingham Palace before so were really excited to be given this opportunity and having the coronation on the horizon made it extra special.

"There were so many people attending who were all from very worthy causes so it was great to hear everyone's stories too.'

"I've worked hard over the last few years to campaign for building safety and it is great to have our caused recognised in this way - we all know we have a very long way to go, with so many buildings still impacted by fire safety defects and covered in flammable cladding, but it is a good time to pause and reflect on the journey so far."

The party started at 3pm and the guests were asked to arrive through the front gates of the Palace.

They were then encouraged to walk around the grounds and given a plate of afternoon tea delights before the National Anthem played. The King, The Queen Consort, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent appeared outside the Palace and began to walk through the crowds where various people had been picked to be formally introduced and others were spoken to in the crowd.

Sophie got to meet King Charles and had a quick chat about the day and the gardens before he moved on to greet other campaigners.

Sophie shared that said King Charles 'seemed to be in very good spirits and was looking forward to the weekend'.

Sophie added: "There were two military bands playing a selection of songs - including an Abba megamix which was amazing - this continued throughout the afternoon as guests mingled and enjoyed the gardens.

"'The day finished around 6pm and the Royal party left through the crowds, taking a lot of time to really meet with people and have a few conversations."

Hitchin couple Sophie Bichener and Alex Coles receive prestigious honour of being invited to celebrate the coronation of King Charles at his first official Buckingham Palace garden party