A COUPLE will soon be sipping tea with the Queen after securing an invite to an exclusive royal garden party.

Gary and Sharon Shaw, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh on Tuesday, July 1.

The occasion will be especially meaningful for Mrs Shaw, 43, who grew up listening to stories of when her grandparents, William and Doreen Collins, attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London in 1972.

Mrs Shaw said: “My grandparents were the mayor and mayoress of Gateshead at the time. My gran often spoke about the visit, especially after a few drinks. She used to love describing the glamorous clothes and hats people wore.

“I never dreamed I would end up going myself.”

The couple received the tickets through Mr Shaw’s employer, Sliderobes, a fitted wardrobe and sliding door company that is one of the few businesses represented at the event.

Mr Shaw, 51, said: “We are very excited. It should be a wonderful day. We are both fans of the royal family. I think the Queen does an amazing job and is a fantastic ambassador for our country.”