Titilope's Buckingham Palace invite gets royal approval

A Swansea Bay nurse has rubbed shoulders with royalty after being invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party.

Practice Development Nurse Titilope Babatunde swapped training nurses for tea at the palace after receiving a royal invite.

Hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the garden party was held in recognition of their guests’ public service and links to some of the causes that William, Kate and other royals support throughout the year.

Titilope also met Zara Tindall – daughter of Princess Anne – at the event, before taking in a tour of the palace gardens.

PICTURED: Titilope Babatunde at the garden party in Buckingham Palace.

Titilope said: “It was an exciting and surreal experience, being in the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

“Meeting the royals was  humbling. Prince William was gracious and down-to-earth, while Princess Kate’s presence was particularly moving, given her recent health journey, and she spoke with several guests about resilience and creativity.

“The royals engaged in heartfelt conversations and showed genuine interest in the stories of those present.

“It was a pleasure and honour to be among other people who had contributed so much to society, and to be greeted by Zara Tindall, who was so warm and down to earth.

“Being invited to such a prestigious event was a moment of immense pride. It was not only a recognition of individual contributions but also a celebration of collective efforts to make a difference.

“To stand in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, surrounded by people who care deeply about their communities, and to be acknowledged by the Royal Family—it’s a memory that will be cherished forever.”

Titilope now calls Swansea Bay home since leaving her home country of Nigeria in September 2020.

She initially arrived on her own, with her husband and son joining her later, to take up one of the many band 5 nursing vacancies filled by overseas nurses following an international recruitment drive.

PICTURED: Titilope Babatunde outside Buckingham Palace.

Within two years she was promoted to a band 6 Practice Development Nurse, where she is now teaching and supporting nurses upon their arrival from abroad.

With her daughter born in Singleton Hospital two years ago, the family have firmly set their roots in Swansea.

Titilope said: “When I arrived from Nigeria in 2020, if I was told I would be invited to Buckingham Palace for a garden party and meet royalty then I wouldn’t have believed it.

“My family and I love being in Swansea, and I really enjoy working for the health board. Being part of the nurse education team is like having another family, and I love helping the nurses who arrive from abroad settle in their new jobs in a new country – because I was in that situation myself five years ago.”

Lynne Jones, Head of Nursing Education and Recruitment, said: “I was delighted and proud that Titilope was selected to attend the event at Buckingham Palace.

“She is a highly valued and respected member of the Corporate Nursing Practice Development Team and we couldn’t have been better represented. I’m sure this special experience will stay with her for a long time.”