How I met the queen

Last week, on 6th February, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. There will be year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations to celebrate The Queen’s historic reign in the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. I remember here, the events leading to my […]

Last week, on 6th February, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. There will be year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations to celebrate The Queen’s historic reign in the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. I remember here, the events leading to my encounter with the monarch, five years ago.

In the November of 2016, I received a phone call from a lady who introduced herself as Fabienne and told me she was calling from Buckingham Palace. I remember thinking that this could either be a ruthless prank by my friends in England or something truly colossal was about to happen in my life. I was in Malumfashi, my hometown in Katsina State, having driven from Abuja, which is a considerable distance to make me slightly grumpy and unmoved by most things. However, to say this call caused a rush of blood to my head will be an understatement. I listened attentively, half trying to hear any cracks that will give out the prankster in case this was a practical joke, and half taking it dead seriously.

“It is really important to keep all the information I am about to tell you top secret until Wednesday 30th November 2016,” said Fabienne, with a clear, but perhaps the most instructive British accent I’ve ever heard. Without a word, and in shock, I nodded in conformation. “Do you understand that Nasir?’ she asked, after what would have been a foolish silence from the other end of the line.

‘Of course. Yes….Certainly.” I blurted.  “Top Secret till 30th November’.

“Perfect.” She continued. “The plan is to officially announce this alongside some important events around the Commonwealth, especially the 50th Anniversary of Barbados. However, I am happy to confirm that you have been selected as one of 60 Queen’s Young Leaders Award Winners out of 3,000 exceptional young people across the Commonwealth.”  

I remained calm and listened as she told me summarily, the details of a residential programme in the United Kingdom and the award ceremony at Buckingham Palace where the Queen will personally award me, should I chose to accept the award. She said an email was to be sent, to which I should reply confirming my acceptance. She congratulated me once more and before ending the call, as if to quench the last embers of suspicions of a prank or practical joke in my head, she added: “This will attract interest from the media both in your home country and in the UK and we will brief you fully on media opportunities for you. The Queen’s Young Leaders Media Team will be available to support you. When appropriate, we encourage you to document your experience during the residential and award ceremony whenever possible, but please be aware that in certain locations, for example during the awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, photography may be prohibited.” I concluded that this call could only come from one place, and it is the place that Fabienne has said it’s from.

It goes without saying, that there really was no need to ask me for an acceptance; as I was not going to reject this award. I turned around to my cousin and friend who were in the car with me, quiet as possums playing dead, evidently having realized that this call was important. ‘I am meeting the Queen.’ I said to them.

In some way, everything happened so fast from this day. I flew to England and joined 59 other Queen’s Young Leaders joining from almost all 54 Commonwealth countries ranging from Australia to India, to Kenya and St. Kitts & Nevis. After the remarkable residential programme which we had in the historic city of Cambridge, (including a tailored leadership course at the University of Cambridge), we returned to London where we had reception after reception fit only for Her Majesty’s guests.  

It wasn’t all festivities though. Depending on area of work, Queen’s Young Leaders were taken for a special programme to a befitting institution whether in social action, technology or media. Those in technology like me got the singular honour of being received by DeepMind, Google’s AI and Machine learning spin-off in London, Twitter and Facebook headquarters as well as being matched to remarkable mentors who have reached remarkable heights in their lives and careers. There were even more opportunities for business and networking partnerships as we were welcomed by consulting firm PWC, the bank Standard Chartered, the Private bank Coutts, The Royal Courts of Justice and the BBC World Service among others. As if these weren’t enough, we had an afternoon of meetings with political leaders at No. 10 Downing Street as well as met the Commonwealth Secretary-General and High Commissioners at Marlborough House.

All this was in preparation for the ultimate spectacle that was the award ceremony itself to be held in Buckingham Palace with celebrities like David Beckam and Mo Farah, politicians like former Prime Minister John Major, royals like Prince Harry and many more. We were left a whole afternoon to prepare for the Buckingham Palace visit and meeting with Her Majesty. We had handbooks detailing the ‘dos and donts’ and still had a palace staff explain to us: “Her Majesty The Queen is normally addressed on first meeting her as ‘Your Majesty’ and thereafter as ‘Ma’am’.” Also, “To be strictly correct gentlemen would give a little bow from the neck and ladies would curtsey.” And “ In the case of all other Members of the Royal Family, male or female, they are ‘Your Royal Highness’ first time round and ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’ thereafter. A bow or curtsey would also be perfectly acceptable on first meeting.”

It was a special type of giddy feeling when we drove towards Buckingham Palace, past flocks of onlookers and tourists outside its walls, and the gilded gates were flung open to let us in. The obscenely high walls, golden tapestry and imposing paintings on the walls felt surreal and seemed deliberately designed to make one feel tiny in the presence of such royal grandeur. I was almost perfectly lost in this world until after brief networking and seating in one of the palace’s many halls, I heard my name, perfectly pronounced, “Nasir Yammama, Nigeria” beckoned to walk amidst applause to a standing, smiling and graceful Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, flanked by palace guards, in a floral dress and white gloves.

In that brief moment, amidst a handshake, Her Majesty would enquire about my work in agriculture and technology and remark about how ‘tough’ it must be. She would smile and hand me the Queen’s Young Leaders Medal in a little red box with the monarch’s unmistakable royal cypher – the monogram ‘ER’ with the crown on top of it. I walked away from her that moment with a firm knowledge, even a strong conviction that not only were the young people of the Commonwealth The Queen’s biggest legacy but that I am an indelible part of that legacy.