West Lothian Paralympics hero Nathan Macqueen reveals ‘surreal’ chat with King Charles about losing arrows in bushes

West Lothian Paralympics hero Nathan Macqueen has spoken about the ‘surreal’ moment he met King Charles at a special event celebrating medallists from the Paris games.

Nathan was invited to Buckingham Palace last Thursday where the tremendous performance of his and other Paralympians at the games was marked.

He said: “It was a bit surreal if I’m honest.

“I was so nervous before meeting the King. We spoke about archery and how he used to shoot and how he had lost many arrows in the bushes.”

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Nathan (32) was on target when he took home the Gold Medal in the Para Archery Mixed Team Compound Open event in September.

Afterwards the dad-of-one opened up about how his wife inspired him to get into the sport.

Nathan, who stays in Addiewell, was left paralysed as a teenager after a horrific motorcycle crash.

He had excelled playing rugby at U18 level but a potential professional career was cruelly snatched away by the accident just after his 18th birthday.

He tried his hand at power lifting and wheelchair basketball but a shoulder injury scuppered those plans but picked up archery again after trying it out as a boy and has “been hooked ever since”.

Nathan said it’s been a whirlwind since his gold win in Paris, but now he’s back down to earth, he’s looking to his next challenge - the World Archery Championships next year and the Paralympics in LA in 2028.

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He said: “It’s been crazy since the games lol but wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I just started training again last Monday getting ready for the world’s next year in September with the goal of LA in 2028.”

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