A BRIDPORT Brownie and her mum have spent an unforgettable day at Buckingham Palace during a special celebration marking 100 years of Brownies. Rosey, 8, from 1st Bothen-hampton Brownies, and mum Kirsty Edwardes, enjoyed rubbing shoulders with royalty – of the dynastic and sporting kind.

Girlguiding’s president HRH, The Countess of Wessex and the UK’s number one female tennis player, Laura Robson were at the celebration tea party on the famous palace lawns for the celebration of a century of brownie adventure, friendship, community action and fun.

They were joined by tennis ace Laura Robson, who is Big Brownie Birthday Champion this year, and she brought the Wimbledon fun to the party – inspiring Rosey with her top tennis tips.

It was also a chance for The Countess of Wessex to thank Kirsty for supporting her daughter’s Brownie adventure. Kirsty said: “Brownies has made Rosey more independent and has enabled her to make new friends. As Rosey is type one diabetic it has been helpful with enabling her to control her diabetes by herself and made her much more confident.”

Rosey said: “I love brownies. The best parts are making new friends and trying out new things and getting to go on adventures.”

This year girls are celebrating The Big Brownie Birthday by tackling challenges big and small – from carrying out acts of kindness to taking on rafting, rock-climbing and zip wiring and raising awareness of issues affecting girls in the UK and worldwide.

As the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women girlguiding wants to inspire more girls with the confidence to take part in sport.