Ontario teen scores invitation to royal wedding
Taylor Simmons | CBC News | Posted: April 11, 2018 6:43 PM | Last Updated: April 13, 2018
Faith Dickinson, 15, won a Diana Award for her charity, Cuddles for Cancer
Justin Trudeau, Barack Obama and Donald Trump all missed out on invitations to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
But a 15-year-old girl from the Peterborough, Ont. area scored one.
Faith Dickinson is one of seven Diana Award recipients who will be on the grounds of Windsor Castle for the wedding, according to a news release.
The Diana Award, created in honour of the late Princess of Wales, is given to young people who are "changing the world… through kindness, compassion and service."
Dickinson flew to St. James's Palace in London last spring to receive the award for her charity, Cuddles for Cancer.
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She started the project when she was nine, after her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her aunt told her how cold she would get during her treatments, so Dickinson set out to make her a fleece blanket.
Dickinson was overjoyed when she spoke to CBC News from the ceremony last year.
"Prince William told me that I was just doing such an amazing thing," she said. "And Prince Harry told me that I was the most impressive redhead there tonight."
Dickinson has now made more than 3,500 personalized blankets, which have been sent across the world, and she's raised more than $30,000 to have them delivered.
Most recently, Dickinson began delivering the blankets to soldiers returning home with injuries or suffering from PTSD.
'Strong leadership'
Kensington Palace released more details on the guest list Tuesday, including an announcement the couple would not be inviting politicians or world leaders.
They did, however, invite 2,640 people, including 1,200 young people who've "shown strong leadership" and "who have served their communities," according to a tweet from the palace.
Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth and younger brother of Prince William, will marry Markle, an American actress best known for her role in the Toronto-filmed TV series Suits, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19.
Dickinson is still waiting for more details about her invitation. She'll be on CBC Radio's Ontario Morning with guest host Mary Ito on Friday with updates.
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