The 3rd June sees the Queen host the second Garden Party of the year at Buckingham Palace and it is with great pride and pleasure that Fosterline’s own professional advisor has been invited to attend. Jackie is a senior manager with in excess of 25 years’ experience of social care, supporting looked after children in the voluntary, statutory and independent sectors.
Jackie has a long list of achievements and influence within the care system including setting up two major Independent Fostering Agencies, new trade association for fostering providers (NAFP) and establishing the Children’s Advice and Representation Service for the NSPCC in partnership with Staffordshire County Council.
On receipt of her invitation to the Palace Jackie said “Fostering is my lifelong passion and I truly believe that only the very best foster carers are good enough for the most vulnerable children. I am thrilled to receive this invitation and I am very excited about attending.”
FosterTalk’s Managing Director Melody Douglas commented on the honour by saying “We are extremely proud of Jackie, who has been involved with FosterTalk for over six years as a Professional Advisor and has been instrumental in FosterTalk’s development and delivery of Fosterline.
The Queen will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. Other members of the Royal Family in attendance include the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
For any person lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend one of the Queen’s Garden Parties, it must rank as a lifetime highlight. Everybody at Fosterline wishes Jackie an incredible time and hopes she comes away with many memories of what will be an incredible day for her.
Jackie will have received an invite for the occasion, handwritten by the ‘Garden Party Ladies’. This is a selected team of ladies who work tirelessly to ensure every spelling, name and form of address is correct.
The nomination for Jackie to attend will have come from her Lord Lieutenant. The Lord Lieutenants are the Queen’s representatives in the counties. Jackie and her husband Trevor will be expected to follow the usual dress code of uniforms, morning dress or lounge suits for men (most men wear lounge suits) and ‘afternoon dress’ for women.
As can be seen from the picture of Jackie and Trevor before setting out for the Garden Party both look wonderful and fitting for such an occasion.
Garden parties have been held at the Palace since 1860 under the reign of Queen Victoria and were called ‘Breakfasts’ and only the nobility and officials were invited. When the present Queen came to the throne in 1952, eligible young ladies were presented at Court, as they had been for years. In 1958, these presentations were abolished. Garden Parties took the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes, but have evolved into a way of rewarding and recognising public service. They are attended by people from all walks of life as the guest list is open to everyone, not just the nobility.
Jackie and Trevor can look forward to tea and cakes followed by strolls in the beautiful gardens (weather permitting) in one of the most relaxed and informal of Royal events.
We hope both Jackie and Trevor have a wonderful and befitting day.