Buckingham Palace

Noretta and John with Prince William

The MBE Ceremony

It was a calm and luminous affair. From the brightly lit Long Gallery, emblazoned with the cream of the Queen's collection of Old Masters, the Great - soon to be touched by the sword - and the unknown Good relaxed their tensions, then were briefly tutored on procedure by an affable Equerry who brought it all into the realm of the possible. As double investitures are less common, Noretta and I were taken into a sideroom for a brief instruction on how to approach and retreat from the Royal Presence.

Then into a shuffling queue towards the great Ballroom, full of ceremonial uniforms, the blaze of light from the chandeliers reflected from an infinity of shining toecaps. The Presiding Royal was revealed as the most gracious, almost hospitable and war:mly welcoming Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge. To his great credit, and our surprise as the citation had not explicitly mentioned the Keyboard Trust, he began lauding all the excellent work it was doing for young musicians. A remarkable young man himself, with easy and intelligent communication. Quite clearly cut out one day to become an effective and highly popular Monarch. Noretta's Mother was a great Royalist (Vittorio Emanuele, of course, who did not necessarily deserve the favour), but I had not quite expected that her daughter would be so moved as to clasp the Prince's hand in two of hers!

From there into the Courtyard under the grey sky of reality. We had each been allowed to bring three guests, made up of the young of our various families. The sixth place we allotted to the person most unlikely ever again to be invited to Buckingham Palace, our Polish housegirl. Her smile was there to ignite the most luminous part of the whole magical procedings.

Tradition almost demanded that we should then bask in the admiration of our closest over a private lunch at the Travellers which has hosted so many of our significant moments - from wedding anniversaries to Noretta's 80th Birthday concert and dinner and, ironically in view of what has happened since, a celebration of the UK's entry into the EEC. This time we were supported by Johnny and Caroline, Guy and Juliette with their offspringJess and Matt, Patricia Beesley and Bob, our beloved physician Trevor Hudson and Sue, the guardian angel of the Keyboard Trust, Gabriella Bassatne, and the marvellous crew who are now steering it forward with remarkable energy, Geoffrey_Shindler, Sarah Biggs (with Phil) and Sarah Moyse.

Friendship marked the origins ofthe Trust and its development. It fashioned our affectionate relations with relays of its young artists. And it continues to be the foundation and keynote of its work.