A DEDICATED doctor who has treated cancer patients at Colchester Hospital for 15 years cracked jokes with Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Arcot Maheshwar, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at the hospital, was invited to attend a garden party at the iconic London landmark to recognise his 25 years service to the NHS.

Dr Maheshwar, who specialises in treating head and neck cancers, got a rare chance to chat with the heir apparent.

He said: “Each hospital trust across the country is asked to nominate someone to attend.

“The trust generously nominated me, which they told me in December.

“Just because I was nominated did not mean I would be invited, but being chosen out of 3,500 staff at Colchester Hospital as well as many more at Ipswich Hospital was really touching for me.

“I was even more touched when the palace invited me.”

On the day, 6,000 people from across the world rubbed shoulders with Prince Charles, his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and his sister Princess Anne.

Dr Maheshwar said: “It is impossible for them to talk to everybody but Prince Charles stopped and spoke to the man next to me who said he was from Dubai.

“Prince Charles said to him he had brought the nice weather with him.

“He looked at me and I said we are from Colchester and we have also brought the good weather with us and he laughed.

“I congratulated him on the birth of his new grandson.”

Gazette: Geeta and Arcot Maheshwar at Buckingham PalaceGeeta and Arcot Maheshwar at Buckingham Palace

Dr Maheshwar, who visited the palace with wife, Geeta, moved to the UK in 1992. He trained in Cardiff before moving to Colchester Hospital in 2004.

He said: “It was only a few seconds but it was really nice, he made the effort to talk to as many people as he could.

“I was chuffed to attend. I never thought I would go through the gates of Buckingham Palace.”