A woman from Blackburn has spoken out about the time she met the now King of the United Kingdom while receiving her MBE.

Sazeda Patel met the then Prince of Wales back in 2017 while receiving her MBE medal for her work helping children, young people and families living and working in Blackburn.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph about the day, Sazeda described the royal as “kind” and “engaging.

Sazeda, 42, said: “I thought he was really nice. He made me and my family feel very special.

“My family were originally seated towards the back but they were brought forwards so they could see me, which I thought was a really nice and personal touch.”

Sazeda, who helped to create Blackburn’s first Asian scouts group at the Abu Hanifah Foundation, said King Charles spent “longer than normal” talking to her about her MBE.

She said: “When I spoke to him I thought he was really engaged in the conversation.

"They only give you three or four minutes but I felt like I had a good conversation that lasted a bit longer.

“He asked me what I got the award for and gave me some words of encouragement to continue and keep doing what I am doing, which was very nice.

“We also talked about a previous Scouts Training session I had embarked on with Catherine the Princess of Wales in 2013 and he asked me how I found that.

“What stood out most were his parting words to keep doing what I am doing.

“I don’t do this work for the recognition, but for it to be acknowledged and for someone to say all I am doing is making a difference was very lovely.”

Sazeda thinks the royal will make an excellent king.

She said: “I think he is somebody that has empathy with his people and he understands them.

“He made me feel like I was the most important person in the room at that moment. I felt listened to and heard.

“I think he will bring about positive change.”