People arrive at the doorstep of Hasmukh Shingadia’s grocery store in this leafy, prosperous English village. A “fine young girl” used to come here with her mum and dad, or sometimes alone, to pick up daily needs and an odd bag of candy. That went on for years as Kate went to school and university. And one day she arrived with a tall and “very polite” man named William.
And then she screamed, running to husband Hasmukh, waving a white card with their names on it in cursive font.
That the two routine arrivals would converge into a royal invitation for the Indian couple has touched them and the community here.
Chan could not believe it, even after reading our names and seeing clearly that it was from the Queen,” says Hasmukh, Hash to all. “It was a complete surprise.”
Hash and Chan have known the Middletons for 13 years. Carole and Michael and their two daughters, Kate and Pippa, are among their regular customers. William too has dropped by in recent years.
“The Middletons are a tight family and there has been friendship between us, but we never expected to be at the Westminster Abbey this Friday,” says Hash, who was born in Kenya of Indian parents from Porbandar in Gujarat but has lived most of his life in the south of England.
