On Saturday 11th June 2011, it was announced publicly in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List that I was to receive the Order Member of the British Empire writes Sergeant Louis Hylton MBE from the Madeley Local Policing Team.

As a result, on Wednesday 12th October my family and I were invited to Buckingham Palace for my investiture and through this blog I will try to explain the wonderful experience I had that day.

As you can imagine, prior to the formal announcement and investiture there was some correspondence with myself and believe it or not the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood – the body who are responsible for organizing investitures – had to confirm that I actually wanted the award! Incredibly, I do believe that over the years some people have declined receiving their award.

On the day I was allowed to take three guests with me which made things easy as it meant I would be going with my wife and our two teenage children.

On the morning we travelled from our hotel to the Palace by taxi, arriving at about 10am.

From start to finish the whole affair was like a very slick military operation and there were signs indicating where we, the ‘recipients’, had to go, and other signs indicating where the ‘guests’ went.

We – the award recipients – were escorted into a large room to be briefed, while my family – along with the other 300 guests – were taken into a huge ballroom where the actual investiture would take place.

In total, there were 88 of us to be invested and at about 10.30am we had a briefing from a Senior Military Officer from Lord Chamberlain’s office.

The briefing explained the investiture process and it was at that time that I became aware – and was very pleased to hear – that it would be the Queen who would be carrying out the ceremony.

During the briefing we were first of all told that on entering the ballroom we were to wait for our surname to be called. That would be the signal to move forward, turn left and then face the Queen who would be on a small elevated dais.

Gents were told we would do a neck bow – and ladies a courtesy – and the Queen would then pin the award on your jacket or, in my case, my tunic.

There would first be a short conversation and she would then extend her hand to indicate the end of this conversation. That would be my cue to step back from the dais, bow again and then exit the ballroom.

So what did the queen say to me? Well I had decided that I would not attend with any pre-prepared comments and that I would simply react to whatever she said to me. That is exactly what I did.

After putting the award on my tunic the Queen looked at my Army medal ribbon and asked me what they were for. I replied that I had served in Northern Ireland and I had also received my Army Long Service medal.

It was just a spontaneous thing but I said, “Maam, I have been working for you for a long time and it’s a pleasure to finally meet the boss.”

I am pleased to say that the Queen smiled at my remarks!

After the ceremony we all went outside to a huge courtyard where we had some official photographs taken.

Sir Bruce Forsyth – as he was now – was there, as were the press, and I have to say that I felt like a bit of celebrity for the first time in my life. The whole experience was exhilarating, not only for me but all my family too. They said they didn’t want it to end either!

Sadly though it had to, so it was soon back into a taxi and back to the hotel we were staying at for a late lunch and a chance to reflect on what had been a truly memorable morning.

To be honest, sometimes I do ask myself – ‘Why me?’ – but whenever I ask my number one fan this question, she quickly reminds me that I have been doing a good job wearing the Queen’s uniform for the past 38 years.

And, at the end of the day, who am I to argue with my wife?