After seven years, a Drumheller woman had the opportunity to rub elbows with royalty, however now with the outbreak of COVID-19, her dream has been put on hold.
Debbie Grande is an avid follower of the goings-on of the royal family. She has been just as busy applying to attend tea at the palace.
In February of this year, she received correspondence indicating she was successful in the ballot for an invitation to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 27.
“I was applying not even thinking I would ever be accepted,” Grande tells the Mail. “I have been doing it for six or seven years… I was quite excited.”
She adds the date would have been her late father’s birthday.
The date was picked, the plan was set, and Grande was to attend with her daughter Susan who lives in London.
“Usually when someone from Canada is accepted for this, quite often the date chosen is the date the queen arrives,” said Grande.
Grande has been an avid royal watcher, she even attended the celebrations for the most recent Royal weddings in England.
Unfortunately, however, due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus across the globe, she received notification that it has been cancelled.
“Following the UK Government’s advice on events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal Garden Party Office has contacted us to confirm the Garden Parties in London have been cancelled this year. We understand this will be a great disappointment to many of you,” states her letter.
While it has been cancelled, the letter goes on to say that everyone who has been invited to attend in 2020, will be back in 2021.
