"Yes," is the answer to your question. Twice in fact. The first occasion was in 1986 in Japan. I was there as part of a British Trade Week at the Isetan department stores: Tokyo’s answer to Harrods. Clearly Prince Philip was touring the region as, after his visit, he travelled on to China where some now-infamous comments were made.

We were made aware of the Prince’s imminent visit; where we should stand; how we should greet him and so on. Now prepared, we were excited by the opportunity to meet, and possibly speak, with His Royal Highness. Would he be the same person as portrayed in the media?

Senior management from Isetan were on hand for the prestigious visit and were incredibly generous with their hospitality. A slight drawback was that this generous hospitality had been enjoyed the night before the important morning visit and many of the senior Japanese businessmen we met had a real passion for good quality whisky.

As you might expect, the visit was as well planned and executed as the Tokyo rail network. The Prince shook our hands and took time to speak with us, coming across as a genuinely warm and interesting person. I had somehow cut my hand minutes before the official handshake (no idea how) and I was in a state of mild terror as to the choice I may have had to make: refuse the Prince’s hand or risk bleeding on him! Luckily my vitamin K kicked in just in time.

The official tour then progressed to the roof of the building – a space used for all manner of activities, including a fun fair for the children of happy shoppers. On this day though Prince Philip was treated, among other things, to sheepdog trials and to us clog dancing.

After being interviewed by Janice Long for Radio One, about what it was like to be twenty storeys high, dancing for His Royal Highness and avoiding petulant sheep, I was amused to see my now-close personal friends (senior Isetan management) diligently following the Prince and carefully nursing their hangovers. An experience indeed.

My second meeting with the Prince was at Buckingham Palace in 2004. I had somehow been awarded the City & Guilds Medal for Excellence for my work within sports education at Tuson College and had been chosen to represent the North West at an official prize giving ceremony at the Palace. (I guess they were clearly struggling for suitable representation that year!)

After a coach had collected all the award winners and our Plus Ones (my sister Kathy in this case) we were taken to the Palace, there to run the gauntlet of sniffer dogs and armed guards before being escorted up to the Green Room. We practised giving Prince Philip our medals…..so that he could then hand them back to us….and were coached once again in appropriate etiquette. Photographs would be taken and we might even have the opportunity to speak with the Prince during the post-event milling around.

I manage to gain some unwanted attention whilst returning my medal to its presentation box by dropping the heavy metal item onto a rather expensive-looking gold-leaf table and creating a noise akin to a pistol shot!

We were, in fact, fortunate enough to meet and enjoy a more informal conversation with His Royal Highness. I immediately mentioned that, although he would not remember the occasion, he and I had previously met on the rooftop of a building in down-town Tokyo. It was then that we were witness to his sharp mind and incredible memory. He recalled in great detail his visit to Japan 18 years prior and gained genuine enjoyment from recounting the occasion.

There was an adjacent room which could be accessed, containing precious artworks by Rubens and others. Kathy and I moved down the hall and I persuaded her to pass through another set of open doors to view some of the gifts presented to the Queen by various Commonwealth nations. Beyond was a flight of steps leading down and whilst we stood admiring a gift from Canada, Prince Philip approached us. This time he was alone, with no entourage and presumably making his way back to his living quarters. "Having a good look, are you?" was his question to us. I fully expected an arrest to follow. However, his response was just the opposite. "Enjoy," he said, smiling broadly, and made his way down the stairs.

As you’ve already learnt, I was present as a guest at the second of David’s meetings with the Prince. Following the above-mentioned ceremony Prince Philip spoke to each and every Award recipient but we had not been warned that he would do his best to speak to everyone else too. Accordingly I was totally unprepared for his direct question to me and I responded like the proverbial rabbit caught in headlights!

What struck me was his incredible skill at working the room, making everyone feel welcome and included, conveying genuine interest in everyone and everything. His intelligence and humour shone through and I wish I’d had the opportunity to observe him longer.

Meeting Prince Philip remains a highlight in my life.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I met Prince Philip at Holyrood Palace when he presented me with my Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award in the summer of 1983. I can’t remember what he said to me but I do remember being told not to squeeze his hand when I shook it as he was already suffering from arthritis.