LTCFC attends reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Love was most certainly in the air for the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children on Thursday 14 February 2019, when 150 of the charity’s supporters, benefactors, fundraisers and volunteer London licensed taxi drivers made their way to Buckingham Palace for a reception hosted by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall.

Since 1928, the charity has been helping special needs and disadvantaged children; and their work includes famous annual outings to the seaside and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London.

The charity also assists with the many appeals received providing essential funding for the purchase of recreational, technology and mobility equipment for children, schools and hospices.

The LTCFC committee receives no remuneration for the work they do and are extremely proud that present and former committee members, benefactors and volunteers, including the London licensed taxi drivers continue to support the charity with passion and commitment.

The attendees gathered outside the large black gates of Buckingham Palace and once taken through security checks were ushered into the quadrangle where 6 London licensed taxis had been lined up for the royal photo shoot; it was a fantastic sight to behold!

The guests were taken into the grand reception room and soon set their eyes upon the delightful array of royal sandwiches and cakes that were laid out for the reception. The charity’s committee members lined up in front of the London licensed taxis and awaited the arrival of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, who entered the quadrangle in a low emission London taxi.

Upon arrival, The Duchess of Cornwall gracefully exited the taxi and made her way over to the committee members to shake hands and speak to each and every one of them. Then it was time for the photo shoot. Once the photos had been taken, Her Royal Highness made her way into the Palace where she was introduced by the Hon. Chairman, Michael Son BEM, to the charity’s guests to talk about the wonderful work that they do.

After all the introductions it was time for the Hon. Chairman to make a speech and talk about the major changes that the charity had gone through over the past year, including a new website by Relyable, a rebrand by Pentagram and new liveried taxis courtesy of Ubiquitous Taxis.

Her Royal Highness concluded the afternoon by telling the guests that it was the first time she had been in a taxi for a very long time and regaled a very funny story of the time when once in a London licensed taxi, long before Her Royal Highness was married, the London licensed taxi driver did not realise who he had in the back of his taxi and asked her what she thought about herself. The Duchess of Cornwall added ‘he was awfully charming and I gave him a huge tip.’

The charity was certainly charmed by Her Royal Highness whose parting words were that she was ‘very proud’ to be the charity’s patron.

The Hon. Chairman and committee would like to thank the staff involved for their royal hospitality, and of course, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, for making the day so special and unforgettable!