The eyes of the world will be on London this week for the Queen’s official 90th birthday celebrations.

And right at the heart of it will be Huddersfield teachers Alison Bray and Bev Firbank.

The pair, self-confessed Royal fans, have been invited to join the BBC’s outside broadcast team at St Paul’s Cathedral for the National Service of Thanksgiving.

They’ll be there alongside presenters Huw Edwards and Kirsty Young.

It’s just the start of a mad, patriotic weekend for Alison and Bev, with two more days of Royal partying.

The pair will be at the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday to watch the Queen take the salute, and on Sunday will join the thousands of special guests in The Mall for The Patrons’ Lunch, a huge street party for the Queen.

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“It’s a dream come true,” said Alison.

“I’d planned to go to the Trooping of the Colur ceremony and had applied for tickets to the lunch but never dreamed I would get them.

“To cap it all, I had just arrived in New York on holiday last month when I got a call from the BBC asking us to join the broadcast. It’s fabulous.”

The teachers have become media stars – thanks to their love of everything Royal.

The monarchy-mad duo starred on TV and radio when they were at Westminster for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Alison Bray (left) and Beverley Firbank on The Mall at another Royal celebration
Alison Bray (left) and Beverley Firbank on The Mall at another Royal celebration

But their Royal journey began many years earlier when Alison, of Heys Road, Holmfirth, and Beverley, of Windmill View, Scholes, met while teaching at Hade Edge Junior and Infant School. Alison now teaches at St Josephs RC School in Dalton and Bev is at Kirkheaton.

They discovered that they were both ardent Royalists and promised each other that they would travel together to London for as many events as possible. That included Prince Andrew’s wedding to Sarah, William’s nuptials and Princess Charlotte’s birth.

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Alison said: “I’ve been a Royal fan since my gran gave me a Jubilee book in 19977. I met Diana when she came to the maternity hospital in Huddersfield and she was lovely.

“I can’t believe we will be right outside the doors of St Pauls when the service happens on Friday.

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“Bev and I will then be in place for the Trooping ceremony on Saturday.

“It has cost me £150 each for the tickets for Sunday’s lunch but it will be worth it. I go and talk to groups in the area about my Royal visits and so far have raised £2,500 for charity.

“My husband Andrew loves his football: I love the Royals. He lets me get on with it.”