Two Bermudians Rhodes Scholars had the experience of a lifetime on Monday when they were invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.

And they pulled out all the stops to make sure Bermuda got noticed at the ceremony.

Trevor Leitch and Fiona Herring, along with 300 other Rhodes students - who are being schooled at Oxford University - were invited to the Rhodes Centenary to be introduced to the Queen, her consort, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, and former South African president Nelson Mandela in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

“It was just such a surreal experience,” Mr. Leitch said. “There's not a single bad thing I can say about it.”

“It was a truly amazing event,” added Ms Herring. “One which I will remember always.”

Although the reception was not until 5.30 p.m. and Oxford is an hour and a half from London, six buses loaded with Rhodes students left campus at about 2.30 in the afternoon.

“We really didn't want to risk making the Queen wait,” Mr. Leitch said.

When the students arrived at Buckingham Palace - which Mr. Leitch described as “huge and gorgeous” - they were led inside to a reception in the Throne Room, where they had drinks and food and were given small cards with their names on them. Then they formed a line and were taken to be introduced to the Queen and her husband.

“I was so scared I was going to trip,” admitted Ms Herring.

“We knew in advance we would be introduced individually, but we weren't exactly sure how it would work,” Mr. Leitch said. “So, I wanted to make sure Bermuda got noticed.”

“Trev was wearing navy socks and blazer, red Bermuda shorts, a navy tie with the Islands all over it and a Bermuda crest pin on his lapel,” Ms Herring explained. “There was no missing that he was Bermudian!”

The Duke of Edinburgh certainly didn't fail to notice the patriotic attire. As he shook hands with Mr. Leitch he said: “Don't tell me, you're from Bermuda then?”

“Yes sir, absolutely sir,” Mr. Leitch replied.

“Fiona was right next to me, my heart was going a mile a minute,” he told The Royal Gazette.

After the introductions the reception continued, with the Duke, the Queen, and Mr. Mandela milling around the students in the Throne Room and making conversation.

Mr. Leitch and Ms Herring were unable to speak with Mr. Mandela as, due to his ill health, he was seated in a chair and surrounded by students. However, Ms Herring said as he left the room they made eye contact and he smiled at her.

“He has about him such a wonderful, peaceful presence,” she said. “You can't help but recognise you are in the company of a great man.”

The two had an extensive conversation with the Duke about their studies, and Mr. Leitch said the Queen was “completely abreast” of everything that was happening in Bermuda.

“I thought she was going to be stiff and formal,” he said. “But she was funny, charming. She was absolutely delightful.”

The Queen inquired about the damage from Hurricane Fabian and mentioned her son Edward's visit to the Island.

“She was very concerned,” said Mr. Leitch.

“We recounted some of the devastation and the Island's sadness at having lost four people in the storm,” Ms Herring said. “But on an optimistic note, Trev said it was nearly winter and that next spring everything will bloom again.

“Trev was certainly the talk of the event, everyone was gossiping about the guy in shorts,” Ms Herring added. “People would come over to me and ask who the guy was I was talking to and why on earth he was wearing shorts. Discovering it was our national dress, I was then asked why I wasn't wearing shorts and a tie too!”

Later, the Duke remarked to Mr. Leitch that Bermudians and Scotsmen were the same with their kilts and Bermuda shorts.

Mr. Leitch replied: “Well, a well-dressed man is never afraid to show off his knees.”