Lucy on guest list for Prince’s birthday bash

A member of staff at
Little Lucy Wright with mum Diane and dad Richard. INPT30-025Little Lucy Wright with mum Diane and dad Richard. INPT30-025
Little Lucy Wright with mum Diane and dad Richard. INPT30-025

Dromore’s Jolly Jesters was delighted when an unexpected invitation saw her baby daughter attend a London celebration marking the first birthday of His Royal Highness Prince George.

Diane Wright’s daughter Lucy, born on the same day as the prince, was the only baby from Northern Ireland selected to attend the event.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lucy, who travelled to the capital with mum Diane and dad Richard, was one of 12 infants from different regions in the UK invited to the party at St James’s Park and, afterwards, in the luxurious Stafford Hotel.

All the babies were presented with a commemorative, sterling silver £5 coin bearing the Royal Arms design, which was specially struck by The Royal Mint in honour of the future sovereign’s birthday on July 22.

The invitation came as a wonderful surprise to the Wrights, who got a call “out of the blue” last month.

“When Lucy was born,” said Diane, “we got a lucky silver penny because she was born on the same day as Prince George.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She and the other babies who were invited to London were chosen at random from all those (17,500 in all) who got the pennies.”

According to the Royal Mint, throughout history, crossing the palm of a new born baby with silver, or offering them a silver penny, was seen as a way to wish them wealth and good health, while the £5 coin is a favourite for royal celebrations.

Said Diane, “It was a lovely day and all the parents were very excited that their child had been selected.

“The children had their photos taken and Lucy just loved the other babies. It will be a story for her to tell in the future.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lucy, who is Diane and Richard’s first child, shares Prince George’s birthday by chance as she was not due until August 1 but had to be delivered early.

Said Diane, “I would like to take this chance to thank the midwives in the recovery unit at Craigavon Hospital, where I stayed for a week after the birth, for their care.

“They went above and beyond the call of duty.”

After Saturday’s celebration, the family travelled to Wales for a week’s holiday.

The Royal Mint struck 7,500 of the birthday coins, all of which have already been sold.