Television Dreams Meet Reality

Fans of the British sitcom “Keeping Up Appearances” (1990-1995) will no doubt be delighted to see lead actress Patricia Routledge chatting with HM the Queen at a recent reception at Buckingham Palace. Routledge’s character, Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “Bouquet,” as she must continually remind people) pokes gentle fun at class distinctions and the instinct for social climbing in British society. Hyacinth, unfortunately, never made it to the top of aristocratic society during the course of the show, though it’s nice to know that her real-life persona finds herself at home in such august surroundings.

This is, of course, not the first time that Miss Routledge and her sovereign have had the chance to meet – she was awarded the OBE in 1992 and made a CBE in October of 2004.


The Queen speaks to the actress Patricia Routledge and Betty Boothroyd, former Speaker of the House of Commons, during a reception at Buckingham Palace, 18 May 2006. The reception honoured those 'Serving beyond Sixty' and other guests included Richard Briers, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Tom Stoppard.