Three members of a single Marlow family said they were honoured to be chosen as ‘charter bearers’ in the Magna Carta 800th Anniversary River Relay that took place between Hurley and Runnymede at the weekend.

Ila Gangotra and daughters Anisha Gangotra and Trishna Bharadia were nominated for their charity and community work to take park in the procession’s stretch between Bisham Abbey and Cookham, while on board the Royal Shallop Jubilant.

The family are involved in a variety of multiple sclerosis charities, including the MS Society and Asian MS. 

Trishna, who recently appeared on The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief on BBC1, was diagnosed with MS at the age of 28. She said the event was one of her "most memorable experiences".

Speaking about the event, Trishna said: "It was really, really good. It was amazing to know we were going to be part of history.

"On Saturday the weather wasn’t very good but there were lots of people lining the banks and they were waving and cheering us on. It generated a huge amount of interest.

"Last time I was on the river, I was about eight or nine years old. I was seeing familiar sites from a completely different angle. That was really lovely."

The three family members' journey was part of the 800th anniversary Magna Carta celebrations, and they also went to Runnymede on Sunday.

Her sister Anisha, who also supports the MS Society and also supports the This Girl Can healthy living initiative, said it was surreal to be witnessing the regatta from a different perspective.

She said: "The highlight was going through Marlow and the stretch by the regatta.

"We have going to the regatta since 1986 so it was nice to be on the river rather than the banks, and a real honour. It was great to see your home town from a different perspective."

Their mother Ila, who helped organise the Magna Carta relay, said it was "wonderful" to see the "daunting" task come to fruition and even got to go on board the Queen's barge Gloriana the day before.

She said: "I hadn't felt like that since I was a child, it was like waiting for Christmas, I was so excited. 

"And when the moment came I felt honoured and privileged. It was like a dream coming true."

The trio's names are inscribed on a replica charter of the Magna Carta which will now be displayed in Windsor Museum.