Accompanying the King and other royals at the Small Business Reception, were over 300 small business leaders from many industries, including Mary Portas, and ‘Dragon’ Peter Jones.
As well as King Charles, Martin also met the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, who showed interest in the family business on Spring Gardens. The Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester were also in attendance.
Martin, managing director of Hargreaves & Son explained his surprise at receiving the invitation: “Shocked wasn’t the word, and I’m not ashamed to admit I felt quite emotional. To be recognised in such a way by the very top, the pinnacle of society, felt overwhelming at first. In a year in which both the King and myself lost a much beloved parent, the Late Queen and my own father, it felt very poignant.
“When I learned that the reception I attended was the first of its kind since the pandemic and one of the first of the King’s new reign, I felt what an honour I had been given; I didn’t expect to actually meet him, but I was lucky enough to say we shook hands.
“I wished him a belated happy birthday, and he said ‘Oh, that was a very small affair unlike this one’. He also asked me ‘how do you think we’ll get through this dreadful situation?’, referring to the current economic woes.”
Martin concluded: “Out family has never received such an honour before, and we are truly humbled and grateful, and will endeavour to champion the high street, independent retailers and Buxton itself, even more.”
