Owner of Stamford and Bourne hardware stores Harrison and Dunn meets King Charles III at Buckingham Palace reception

A business has received royal recognition after its owner was invited to meet the King at Buckingham Palace.

David Dunn, who runs Harrison and Dunn hardware stores with his brother John, was selected to attend a reception with King Charles III to recognise small businesses.

Having been nominated by the British Independent Retailers Association, David was given the VIP treatment at the palace with an hour-long reception in one of the opulent state rooms.

"It was a real honour, an amazing day," he recalled.

"When you get in the taxi and say 'take me to Buckingham Palace', that's when it really hits you.

"We went in the same way that the Royals and prime ministers do - through the courtyard and on the red carpet. Everyone was so welcoming - it makes you feel really special.

"It didn't really sink in until I was on the train home - it was such a grand event."

Other guests included business icons such as Peter Jones, from hit BBC television show, Dragons' Den.

The reception had originally been requested by the Queen, but after her death, His Majesty agreed to honour the event.

"He was stood right by my shoulder, but I didn't get to speak to him because he was so in demand," David added.

"But it was just so nice to be acknowledged as a small business."

Harrison and Dunn, which has a store in All Saints Street, Stamford, and North Street, Bourne, was founded by David's grandfather and his business partner in 1930.

The two brothers took over 25 years ago from their dad, Richard, who still works for the business, and uncle Michael.

Yet David, 45, thought he had been pranked by his colleagues when he arrived back from holiday in October to find an envelope on his desk complete with the Royal seal.

"All of the staff were saying 'you have to open it' because it had the royal seal," he said.

"My first instinct was that it was a prank because I've done a few myself in the past.

"I Googled what a royal invitation looked like and it was the same style and also rang to check it was legit.

"To be chosen among just two or three hundred is a real honour for Harrison and Dunn."