Iqbal Mohamed, the Independent Member of Parliament for Dewsbury and Batley, attended a prestigious reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, 29 January 2025. The event, hosted by His Majesty King Charles and Her Majesty Queen Camilla, welcomed new MPs and members of the House of Lords.
During the reception, Iqbal Mohamed had the opportunity to meet the King and Queen in person. Reflecting on the experience, he described the occasion as both exciting and an honour. “I was extremely excited to visit Buckingham Palace and honoured to meet the King and Queen,” he said.
Having only ever seen Buckingham Palace from the outside, he described the experience of stepping inside as awe-inspiring. “It was extremely exciting to go inside and marvel at the history, architecture, paintings, and grandeur. It was a real honour to meet and speak with His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, who were warm and engaging,” he said.
He added that King Charles showed interest in the fact that he was elected as one of six Independent MPs, marking the highest number of Independents in Parliament. During their conversation, Mohamed extended an invitation to the King and Queen to visit Dewsbury and Batley, to which Queen Camilla responded by encouraging him to write to the Palace.
The reception marked a significant milestone in Mohamed’s parliamentary journey, offering a rare opportunity to engage directly with the monarchy. The event served as a platform for new MPs and Lords to celebrate their roles and responsibilities in shaping the future of the nation.
