Three key figures from Workington’s Carnegie Theatre have been been honoured for their work by attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Carnegie Theatre Trust chairman Lee Martin-White was given the royal honour through his job with DEFRA, in recognition of his work both with the government body and the theatre.

And the theatre trust’s vice-chairman Ian Johnston and his wife Marlene, who is trust secretary, were also invited.

Lee and the Johnstons did not realise they had all been picked until a chance conversation sparked by Marlene.

Ian and Marlene spent three days in London to make the most of the trip, while Lee and his husband Philip travelled down separately from them, joined by their mums Carole Sproat and Sandra White.

The two mums enjoyed dressing up for the occasion to walk their sons to the palace, then went off for afternoon tea before rejoining the pair at the main gates after the event.

And Lee and Philip were able to catch up with Ian and Marlene in the palace grounds, where they were refreshed with tea and sandwiches.

The event was attended by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Philip said: “There were a lot of people there but it didn’t seem like it. It’s a gigantic area.

“We went through the main gates and walked through the palace to get to the back garden.

“When we got to the doors at the back and we saw what the royal family sees it was amazing.

“It was a lovely day. There was no breeze and a perfect blue sky. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

“It was nice to see Ian and Marlene outside the Carnegie too.”

Marlene said: "It was a very surreal experience but it was a wonderful day. The whole experience was absolutely amazing.

"We feel very privileged and very honoured to be there. It was an experience we'll never forget.

"We work in the background and nobody sees it so it's nice to think somebody recognised it enough to nominate us."