Two Royal Opera House volunteers from Thurrock were invited to Buckingham Palace at the end of May to a garden party marking Prince Charles’s 70th birthday.

Katherine Doige and Lesley Robinson are both long-serving volunteers with the ROH Learning and Participation team.

They have helped with running tours at the Production Workshop and Costume Centre, assisted at events and lent a hand with office administration.

They were chosen by a ROH ballot to attend the garden party.