Northumberland service at Buckingham Palace Garden Party

BelleVie Care, which supports people across Northumberland to live well at home, attended the event on May 6 to recognise its community impact.

Buckingham Palace's garden party (Image: Trudie Fell)

King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the first annual garden party of the season, joined by Princess Anne and Prince Edward.

Three garden parties will take place at Buckingham Palace in 2026.

Dr Trudie Fell, founding CEO of BelleVie Care, took her husband, Simon Fell, as her plus one.

The 'brilliant' brass bands were positioned on opposite sides of the gardens (Image: Trudi Fell)

"Rather wonderfully for something that is, by definition, a once-in-a-lifetime experience (the rules don't allow people to attend two garden parties), my 83-year-old mother-in-law, Jenifer Fell, was also invited to attend the Garden Party," Trudie said.

Buckingham Palace (Image: Trudie Fell)

"She has run her village post office for over 50 years - and still runs it - and was nominated by her village. She brought her husband, Tony Fell. So the four of us had a lovely, and very special, day out as a family."

Trudie said BelleVie Care's recognition was 'incredibly humbling'.

Trudie and mother-in-law, Jenifer (Image: Trudie Fell)

"It validates that the innovative new model of delivering care that we brought from the Netherlands to the UK seven years ago is making a real difference to people’s lives.

"This honour really belongs to our wonderful Wellbeing Support teams, including those in Hexham, Ponteland, Morpeth, Blyth and Consett, whose compassion, dedication and commitment make BelleVie what it is every single day."

King Charles at the garden party (Image: Trudi Fell)

She added: "The atmosphere was incredible throughout the afternoon, helped by two brilliant brass bands positioned on opposite sides of the gardens, using a wonderfully simple flag system to take turns playing without overlapping one another."

Trudie described the day as unforgettable.

She said staff didn't know which members of the Royal Family would be present until they appeared.

She met His Majesty The King and also saw The Queen, The Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Trudie described the palace’s egg sandwiches as "the best I have ever tasted!"