Glasgow restaurant legend pays tribute to The Queen and remembers the day they met

Earlier this year Raj Bajwe, the former owner of Spice Garden and ex-manager of Cafe India, shared his story of receiving an MBE from the Queen in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.

Now the 59-year-old says he has been left ‘devastated’ by the death of his beloved monarch.

Pictured: Pictured: A band of Royal Stewart Tartan in Raj's turban caught the Queen's eye (Image: newsquest)

He said: “I had heard the news that Her Majesty was unwell while I was working in the restaurant and was checking my phone all day.

“It was my sister that phoned me to say ‘Raj, she’s passed away'.

“I hung up my chef's jacket and told the others that I was away home.”

Rather than staying at home, Raj later chose to make the emotional journey to a place that both he and The Queen had held close to their hearts.

Pictured: Raj with his family as he received his MBE at Balmoral (Image: newsquest)

He said: “I couldn’t watch too much TV because it made me very upset.

“So on Sunday, I went to Holyroodhouse.

“That’s where I received my MBE so all my thoughts and feelings were there that day.

“I remember when I met her, I told her that she reminded me of my mother, and she looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘I’m sure your mother is looking down on you today'.

“I saw the wee glaze in her eyes when she said it.

“I smile to myself whenever I think about that.”

As The Queen makes her final journey to Westminster Abbey, Raj is hoping that he will be able to pay his respects one last time.

He said: “I am trying to get a flight to London so that I can be there for the funeral.

“For me though, last Sunday at Holyroodhouse was everything.

“It was so nice to be back just standing amongst the crowd and I really felt her presence.

“I was glad that I could be there.

“For all of her years on the throne, she had my respect.

“I feel very fortunate to have met her.”