THE EDITOR of Your Harlow was honoured to attend a reception for regional media hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday night.

The King wanted to take the opportunity to gather together members of the media from across the country and thank them for the “unique and vital role you play in society”.

Your Harlow was part of a group of independent newspapers from Bedford, Bristol, Edinburgh to Caerphilly who have been praised by the King for keeping local news alive.

The King and Queen mingled with the 400 guests, discussing their roles in the media.

Our editor Michael Casey had a long discussion with the Duke of Gloucester about Harlow and Sir Frederick Gibberd. The Duke, who practiced as an architect was interested in the “next phase” of Harlow’s development.

He had opened the Harlow Council building in 2002.

Afterwards, Michael Casey said: “I was very honoured to represent Harlow at Buckingham Palace.

“It is important to take every opportunity to be an ambassador for our town and put it on the map.

“We extended an invitation for the King and Queen to visit Harlow on its 80th birthday in two years time”.

Message from His Majesty The King

“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.

As I said in a speech to mark the tercentenary of Britain’s first daily national newspaper, back in 2002, the Press, alongside other long-standing institutions, is at the forefront of ‘defining, describing and celebrating the more profound values of our nation’

Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever – and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands.

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.

You won’t always get it right. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy.

I know how commercial pressures and changing technologies have had a significant impact on your industry. But as the media landscape has changed, so too many of you have adapted and innovated, finding ways of sharing your journalism and engaging audiences in new and creative ways.

It is in everyone’s interests that you should succeed. For without a thriving and financially robust regional media, we would all be the poorer.

Thank you.

Charles R

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Further coverage

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