A mum and daughter who run a grocery and household store together met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge together at the Royal Garden Party.
The Queen’s garden party is for those who make a difference to their community.
Sital-Raja-Arjan MBE was invited for her community work while her mum, Nila Raja was invited for her lifetime achievement award and chatted cordially with the Duke, Prince William and the Duchess, Kate.
Nila and Sital run House of Raja together in Bolton, a traditional Indian super store, selling all kinds of native spices, groceries and household items.
Sital said: “Everyone at the palace treated us like royalty.
“There was always a gentlemen helping with my mum’s wheelchair and the Queen’s bodyguard treated us like family, every time he saw us he made sure we were looked after.
“They brought us our tea and held an umbrella over my mum as we talked outside.”
House of Raja has been a pillar for the community since it opened but most especially since the first lockdown, when the staff helped isolated elderly people with their groceries and continue to do so.
Sital said: “When my dad died in 2007, he left an address book with names of people around his generation so we’re talking about people in their 70s.
“We contacted every one of them and made sure that nobody went hungry.
“We had staff going in to see them and helping with everyday tasks.”
“Some people don’t have anyone so we organised food for them or if they don’t speak English, someone will come and help them with things like forms etc.”
Nila is 79-years-old but still works at the store today.
Besides this, she allows charity Homeless Aid to use her kitchen weekly to make sandwiches as well as storing equipment.
Sital said: “My mum even enjoys cutting the swiss rolls, that’s become her favourite thing to do.
“She loves helping and has done so for a long time with her work.
“That and House of Raja is all we’ve known, and my mum only had time off in lockdown because she had to isolate.”
Sital volunteers at Homeless Aid as well as at the Animal Destitute and Boot Out Breast Cancer.
She joined the family business officially after her dad died and was a Pride of Britain finalist as well as receiving an MBE for her work.
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