COMMUNITY champion Marie Whitehead was a guest of the Royal Family at a Buckingham Palace garden party.

Marie, who is one of the stalwarts behind the Strand Centre in Dawlish, was invited as one of 6,000 people to attend the prestigious garden party. 

A number are taking place this month to celebrate King Charles III Coronation and to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country. 

Marie, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list, said: ‘It was lovely and the people there were amazing.

‘It was beautifully organised, the food was fantastic and the gardens are beautiful.

‘Just being there was a privilege and so very special and memorable.

‘Everyone who was there had done something amazing.

‘And it was lovely to be there just after the Coronation and there was still such a great atmosphere in London.’

The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were in attendance at the event. 

And Marie is to receive her British Empire Medal, awarded to mark her decade of service to the Strand Centre, from the Lord Lieutenant of Devon at a ceremony at Lympstone next week.