By Lipika from India

I was invited by Melbourne 2006 to present flowers to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at her reception for the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. I wanted to scream out and tell people that I am meeting the Queen. It all feels like a dream … but it's all real!

I wore my best traditional Indian dress as I wanted to be perfect. I wondered what the Queen would be like and what she would ask me.

When I arrived at the reception with Plan Australia CEO, Ian Wishart, I was introduced to the Prime Minister and I couldn’t believe it. Finally the big moment came and I presented flowers to the Queen. I was so nervous I could only smile back at her. It felt like I had touched the moon.

When I got back to the stadium to join the other youth reporters, I will still floating. We were seated right in front of the action — just behind the official photographers. This time it was I who felt like royalty.

As the teams from Ghana, then India and Pakistan marched out onto the stage we all cheered loudly.

It was a big night for me and Plan at the Games. Plan’s youth ambassador, Harry White, made a speech to the Queen and again we all cheered loudly from the grandstand as we all felt very proud.

I consider myself lucky that I got this opportunity, especially my club supported by Plan.