Jean Roberts, head housekeeper at Hotel du Vin, was chosen by the Housekeeper's Association to attend an evening at the palace which was held in recognition of the British hospitality industry.

The Queen requested that housekeepers should be represented at Tuesday's event, and Jean was one of three selected to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Jean was taken around parts of the palace, including the drawing room, music room, Royal picture gallery and throne room, before being served champagne and apple juice from the Sandringham estate.

The Queen's footmen also served parma ham and asparagus canapes and raspberry truffles on gold platters to the group of selected guests which included bed and breakfast owners, army caterers and chefs.

Jean said she would never forget her day at the palace.

She said: "We all waited in line to be introduced to the Queen, and she met us one by one to shake our hands. She looked amazing, really beautiful.

"It was an honour to meet her and the Duke of Edinburgh. He asked where I was from and then said Harrogate was a lovely place. It was all very nice.

"I was extremely proud to be there and it was a wonderful experience."

Jean has worked within the industry for 16 years, the last five being at the Hotel du Vin. She is also the chairwoman of the Yorkshire branch of the Housekeeper's Association and was shortlisted for a Catey award in 2007.

Yorkshire hotels have played a big part in Jean's career; her first position being trainee junior assistant housekeeper for the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

After enjoying several promotions and relocations, she returned to the city and worked at the Hilton Hotel before moving on to the Weetwood Hotel where she was given the responsibility of restructuring the housekeeping department.

ashley.marshall@ypn.co.uk