King and Queen hail the Slice’s work in local journalism at Buckingham Palace reception
Tower Hamlets Slice Editor-In-Chief, Tabitha Stapely, met King Charles and Queen Camilla at a Buckingham Palace reception that recognised the ‘vital’ role of regional press.
On Wednesday 26 March, Tower Hamlets Slice’s Editor-In-Chief, Tabitha Stapely, attended a reception honouring the work of local and regional media editors at Buckingham Palace.
The drinks reception was hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla and was attended by 400 guests representing independent local press outlets making a difference in their local communities nationwide.
Ahead of the reception, King Charles said in a message to all those who work in the regional press industry: ‘I have long believed that regional media, in all its forms, has a unique and vital role to play in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times.
‘Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing. Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow.’
Their Majesties heard from guests about their crucial work in building trust and fostering community cohesion, including a chat with our Tower Hamlets Slice editor. ‘King Charles was intrigued by the name ‘Slice’ and I explained the name reflected a more contemporary take on local journalism.’
The Slice greatly valued receiving recognition from the King and Queen for its work in the local community. Stapely said: ‘Newspapers like the Slice are filling a gap left by larger corporations that have slashed resources for local reporting creating ‘news deserts’ that threaten local democracy. The Queen and King are shining a light on this urgent issue, supporting our lobbying work to protect independent media outlets like ours.
‘But the recognition needs to go to my entire team and our members. We wouldn’t be here without the support of our members – local readers – who also believe in the importance of our work. It’s a moment of great gratitude for me after years of perseverance.’
Tower Hamlets Slice got an insider’s view of the Palace, but no cameras were allowed.
‘It was amazing to see inside Buckingham Palace,’ says Stapely. ‘The staff were so friendly and professional. The palace is in pristine condition too, lined with oil paintings, glittering with chandeliers and gilded on every edge. We were served incredible canapés and Laurent Perrier Heritage Champagne. It was glorious!
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