A senior Ipswich nurse was honoured to meet with the Prince and Princess of Wales at a party marking 75 years of the NHS. 

Louie Horne was among those invited to the special NHS Big Tea party held in the wellbeing garden of St Thomas Hospital in London back in May. 

Ms Horne has been working for the NHS for an incredible 22 years. She was also the first Filipino nurse to join NHS England team as the Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) clinical research fellow, with a focus on international staff.  

Ipswich Star: Louie Horne has been working for the NHS for 22 years. Image: NHS Charities TogetherLouie Horne has been working for the NHS for 22 years. Image: NHS Charities Together (Image: NHS Charities Together)

Ipswich Star: This year marks the 75th birthday of the National Health Service.This year marks the 75th birthday of the National Health Service. (Image: Newsquest)

Hosted by former Great British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc and the organisation NHS Charities Together, the event was attended by workers and patients representing the NHS’ many achievements from the past 75 years. 

Ipswich Star: Louie Horne was among those named in the King's Birthday Honours list in June. Image: ESNEFTLouie Horne was among those named in the King's Birthday Honours list in June. Image: ESNEFT (Image: ESNEFT)

Ipswich Star: The Princess and Princess of Wales were guests of honour at the event, and were delighted to meet the NHS workers. Image: NHS Charities TogetherThe Princess and Princess of Wales were guests of honour at the event, and were delighted to meet the NHS workers. Image: NHS Charities Together (Image: NHS Charities Together)

Ipswich Star: The party was hosted by former Great British Bake Off presenter, Mel Giedroyc. Image: NHS Charities TogetherThe party was hosted by former Great British Bake Off presenter, Mel Giedroyc. Image: NHS Charities Together (Image: NHS Charities Together)

Ipswich Star: The event was one of many celebrating 75 years of the NHS. Image: NHS Charities TogetherThe event was one of many celebrating 75 years of the NHS. Image: NHS Charities Together (Image: NHS Charities Together)

The day got off to a surprising start, with the Prince and Princess of Wales arriving early to help set tables and put the finishing touches to a birthday cake. 

MS Horne was honoured to meet with their Royal Highnesses. 

She said: “As nurses, we don’t normally attend dos, we just kind of put our heads down and work, so it’s been really fantastic to do something so special.  

“I spoke to Princess Catherine, who was very interested in what we had to say and our experience during the pandemic, when coming together as a team and as a community was so important for our morale and kept us going.  

“She was very grateful for all the things we've done and so gracious. I couldn’t eat as I was so nervous and excited! I did manage to get a selfie with her though. I said, ‘do you mind because my mother of 85 in the Philippines will not forgive me if I don’t have a selfie, you’re her favourite royal’.  

“This is going to be a lifetime memory for me.”