My Best DAY Ever!
Royal Navy engineer is made an MBE – then proposes to girlfriend at Palace
IT was the crowning moment for a couple very much in love.
Royal Navy engineer Matthew Gallimore was made an MBE by Prince William – then proposed to his girlfriend at Buckingham Palace.
Thrilled Adele Thomasson, 36, said ‘yes’ after Mr Gallimore, 35, got down on bended knee.
He said later: ‘This is a big occasion – we are never going to do this again – so I thought I wanted to share it with my partner. Rather than it being all about me, let’s make it a special day for both of us.
‘Adele didn’t have a clue. She was very, very surprised.’
Mr Gallimore, who has been in the Navy for five years, was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his military service and charity work. He said he began planning the proposal as soon as he received the letter.
The technician, from Crewe, Cheshire, explained: ‘I rang up the Palace and said, “Can I do it inside?” and they said “No, you have to do it outside. At the end of the day it’s the Queen’s house, so the last thing you want to do is annoy the Queen”.’
Mr Gallimore and royal staff agreed that he would propose in the Quadrangle – a courtyard in the middle of the Palace – after receiving his award on Tuesday.
The couple later celebrated with drinks at The Ritz followed by dinner at The Ivy restaurant.
Mr Gallimore, a junior rating based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, said he was pleased William did the honours.
He added: ‘Once I knew it was him, I was a bit more relaxed. If it had been the Queen, I’d have been panicking.’ His charity work includes helping homeless people get off the streets. The couple have a 20-month-old son called George. Mr Gallimore said: ‘We’re from a council estate. I was told at school you’re never going to achieve anything, because I’m dyslexic.
‘Now I’m quite well known in my community. My family are thrilled to bits.’