Louise Hunt Skelley PLY shares her favourite memory of Queen Elizabeth II

We're at the end of May and there has been a lot of events this month. One of the most talked about event was the Coronation of King Charles III. Louise Hunt Skelley PLY is reflecting on her favourite memories of King Charles and her very favourite memory of his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Louise is a former Paralympic tennis player who travelled competing and who was ranked top ten in the world at the height of her career. Today she’s a television commentator on sports, a motivational speaker and an advocate and activist around disability rights.

I have had the privilege to meet both King Charles and his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II a couple of times. I’ve met the King on a couple of different occasions, and he’s always been amazing. The last time I met him was when my husband Chris Hunt Skelley got his MBE, and it was the then Prince Charles presenting, and he was chatting to Chris, and that was a really special moment for me to be lucky enough to witness.

I’ve been lucky enough to have met the late Queen Elizabeth II twice. The first time was when the National Tennis Centre opened in 2007 and that was amazing but the second time, I met her is a memory that will always stand out for me. I was invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace after the London Paralympic Games and was lucky enough to have a conversation with her. She had a brilliant sense of humour. Whilst we were talking, she asked me how I found getting around the gardens and grounds and I stupidly said “Oh it’s been a lovely day but it’s quite tricky pushing on the cobbles. It’s good training but it’s quite challenging.” The Queen had had new stones laid down prior to the garden party and her response was a perfect example of her sense of humour because she said “Oh that’s good to know. Next time I won’t lay any fresh ones then. I laid these down specially but now I know it’s difficult for wheelchairs, I won’t do that again!”

It was a really nice moment with her and is a wonderful meeting that has stayed in my head to this day and is a memory that I love to be able to share with people.

For more information on Louise and the work that she does visit http://www.louisehunt.co.uk/