A WATCHET couple are walking on air after being invited to Windsor Castle to watch the royal wedding procession of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19.
Donna and Paul Stevens, who started the charity Elliot’s Touch in 2015, will be among 1,200 others invited by the royal couple, including young people who have shown strong leadership and those who have served their communities,
“What an absolute honour! We are in shock but obviously completely overjoyed,” said Donna.
“Us little people from Watchet, going to the royal wedding! I can’t believe it.
“It will be unforgettable, a memory we’ll have forever, that will take away some of the bad ones.”
The couple have raised over £110,000 for Elliot’s Touch, the charity they set up when their little boy, Elliot, died soon after his first birthday.
Money is raised to fund research and raise awareness of cardiomyopathy (diseases of the heart muscle) in children and mitochondrial disease, a possible cause of cardiomyopathy, for which there is currently no cure.
Donna and Paul were selected to go to the royal wedding after being nominated by Anne Maw, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, and they received her letter last Friday, asking if they could attend.
Now they are waiting for the official invitation to arrive, after confirming they would most definitely be attending.
Donna and Paul will be among the 1,200 people who will have a very special view at Windsor Castle of the bride, groom and guests as they arrive and depart.
The wedding ceremony itself is taking place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where Prince Harry was christened
“I think we will see outside the church and watch everyone. I don’t yet know the details,” said Donna.
They are planning to make a weekend of their time in London, and may also visit the Royal Brompton Hospital, where £36,000 raised by Elliot’s Touch has helped fund research.
The charity also helped Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Elliot was treated before he died, with a £20,000 donation. Elliot’s Touch is currently looking into funding for Bristol Children’s Hospital, where their son was also treated.