P.E.I. Lt.-Gov. Antoinette Perry felt giddy with excitement as she walked down the hallway.
After all, this was no ordinary hallway in no ordinary house.
She was about to be ushered into the historic receiving room at Buckingham Palace in London to meet the Queen in a much-anticipated moment that, when it happened Thursday afternoon, left her awestruck.
“When I took her hand, then it was really like, ‘this is the moment I’m realizing a dream’,” said Perry in an interview with The Guardian.
Perry, a former French teacher and P.E.I.’s 42nd lieutenant-governor, took residence in Fanningbank in late October.
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She learned in late January the date of her audience with the Queen.
She had a good deal of time to reflect on her journey from girl who always had “that aspiration of meeting the Queen” to a woman actually packing her clothes at Government House in Charlottetown in preparation for the long-fantasized encounter.
Her outfit was ready, she brushed up on protocol and had reached out for first-hand advice from two former lieutenant-governors and a current one on their experiences of meeting the Queen.
Perry said it was a “really special feeling” walking into Buckingham Palace Thursday.
“It was beautiful,” said Perry. “It’s like you are walking down a long hall of history.”
Perry said the Queen put her at ease as soon as she walked into the historic receiving room. She proceeded to invite her to sit down for conversation.
“She is very present to you,” said Perry. “She is an excellent conversationalist and is so well read on so many topics.”
Although Perry couldn’t go into great detail about what was discussed, she could say the Queen was interested in knowing about Perry and Prince Edward Island.
“I think I succeeded in conveying to her that I’m a proud Islander and that I was bringing greetings from a population (of 154,000) on P.E.I.,” said Perry.
It was also conveyed throughout the conversation that the Queen is very proud of Canada.
Perry says the 20-minute conversation flew by, but it is one she will never forget.
“It gives awesome a totally new meaning,” said Perry.
Perry has more official engagements lined up in the coming days in the U.K., but she plans to partake in some St. Patrick's Day festivities this weekend including a parade on Sunday.
She also plans to do as much sightseeing as she can in London.
“You can’t see everything, but what I do get to see for me is a bonus,” said Perry. “The whole trip for me is just a dream.”
