Our Christmas Party at Spencer House, 2016 in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
On December 14th, Style for Soldiers gave their sixth Christmas reunion Party at Spencer House in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, for over 350 injured service personnel and their wives and partners.
Emma Willis and Style for Soldiers Ambassador David Gandy began welcoming guests at 5:30 pm in the beautiful hall of Spencer House, with a magnificent Christmas tree and The Household Cavalry Quintet playing Christmas carols. Men were dressed in Marks and Spencer and Huntsman suits, Emma Willis shirts and ties, Russell and Bromley shoes, Birline watches, Alice Made this specially designed Style for Soldiers cufflinks and London Sock Company socks, but were nearly out shone by their wives, partners, mothers and daughters who looked stunning in cocktails dresses.
At 6:30 pm Emma Willis and Style for Soldiers Patron LT. General Sir George Norton KCVO CBE greeted His Royal Highness and proceeded upstairs to the magnificent Great Room.
His Royal Highness spoke in depth to many of the guests in a very happy and relaxed atmosphere and asked with deep concern about their recovery, new jobs, housing and families. Laughter filled the room too, and it was so clear to see the great pleasure the conversations brought on both sides. Emma had heard so many moving and funny stories told by patients who The Prince has previously visited at Headley Court Military Rehabilitation Hospital and the Birmingham Hospital and the reunions clearly brought great joy, and no doubt memories to last forever for the service personnel with who The Prince is so popular.
Champagne and Canapés were served all night, David Gandy chatted away and happily posed for many a joint portrait, and a 8:30 pm speeches began.
Emma welcomed guests, thanked His Royal Highness and the injured and their families for their hundreds of thank you letters, emails, texts and gifts over the years.
Powerful speeches were made by Style for Soldiers Ambassadors Lt. Alex Horsfall and Matt Weston who both sustained life changing injuries serving in Afghanistan. Their courage, selflessness and humour was an inspiration to all listening. His Royal Highness then presented walking sticks to Harrison Grace and Charl Pienaar, from His Royal Highnesses's Parachute Regiment.
His Royal Highness then made an extremely moving speech to all the guests, expressing his gratitude for their service, admiration for their courage and appreciation for the work Style for Soldier do.
Guest enjoyed meeting each other again throughout the evening, and even performed a spontaneous and very impressive opera on the dramatic stone staircase, filling the very beautiful Spencer House with the joyous sound of our courageous injured servicemen and women celebrating being together again.
