Sidley mum, MBE, meets the Queen

The Sidley mother travelled with her husband, Dean, and best friends Amanda and Mark Summers for last Wednesday's investiture when she received her MBE.

She said later: "It went very well - but it was quite a scary experience!"

"You get there about 10am and there's quite a lot of waiting about. You get separated from your guests quite early on.

"You mingle with the other recipients and then someone talks you through what's going to happen and what you have to do.

"That's when you start to get a bit nervous...

"It's well very organised, regimented really. You are waiting in a line and then basically you get pushed forward..."

Tracey wore a green polka-dot dress and a an off-white jacket for the occasion, topped by a Victoria Beckham style feathered hair-piece.

"You have to go up and give a curtsey. The Queen asked me what I did."

Part of Tracey's nomination was for her work in training and consolidated entrants into the Child Support Agency at Hastings.

But the other part was for her work in launching and running the national support group for youngsters who, like her son Jordan, suffer from the rare condition Proteus Syndrome.

"She asked me what it was and how rare it was.and what the treatment was."

Asked what Jordan and younger brother Kai thought of their mother going to Buckingham Palace, Tracey said: "I think it goes over their heads really. I told them I was going to see the Queen and Kai thought it was quite funny..."

Pictured: Tracey and Dean at The Palace, with friends Amanda and Mark Summers.