Manchester Bomb Survivor Invited To The Royal Wedding Will Carry A Very Special Gift For Meghan And Harry

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry at St. George's Chapel on May 19, there will be a special guest who will carry a significant tribute.

Amelia Thompson, 12, who is a survivor of the Manchester bomb in May 2017, will carry a candle in honor of the victims of the terrible attack.

"We are going to have a candle with the names of the 22 people who lost their lives there," he tells People Thompson magazine - who is one of the inspiring 1,200 Britons who were sent a couple of tickets. "It's just a little bit personal. It will mean that all 22 people will be there.”

"We hope to go the day before and ask to be lighted at St. George's Chapel on May 22, which is the anniversary," he adds.

Thompson will be present at the wedding with his close friend Sharon Goodman, whose 15-year-old granddaughter Olivia Campbell-Hardy lost her life in the terrorist attack, in which more than 500 people were also injured, during one of the concerts in the United Kingdom. from Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman Tour. Families have come very close since the attack, and Thompson thought of Goodman when the invitation came to his cell phone from his mother, Lisa Newton, 47, (who dropped the phone on the floor because of the shock).

"I was with my dog and I asked him what was wrong and he showed me," says Thompson. “It was an email on her phone. I was speechless. I did not know what to say. I thought it was false. But when I started reading I realized it was real and I was stunned.”

For Thompson - who plans to ask Meghan for a selfie if she can meet her - the invitation provides a long-awaited light at the end of a very long tunnel. In November 2015, the schoolgirl from the small town of Dronfield Woodhouse in Derbyshire, England, lost her 52-year-old uncle Hayden Newton to prostate cancer. Tragically, this caused her father, Wayne, 48, to suffer depression and two heart attacks, forcing her to receive three and a half months of intensive care in hospital and lose 17 months of work.

Despite the family's dire financial situation, Thompson's grandparents wanted to brighten up her life and planned to give away tickets for the Ariana Grande concert to her and her mom. The two took the train to Manchester and put on makeup and hair styling in a wagon as they headed to the MEN Arena from nearby Sheffield.

"It was just a little fun for him to forget about the problems," says Newton. "The purpose was for her to have a great time and that's how we were there when that happened."

“I took a picture of Amelia on her phone kissing a balloon. She was facing where the bomb was and suddenly it exploded. I turned to look back over my left shoulder and then turned my head to Amelia, who was staring intently

- she literally froze.”

To which he adds: "All these people began to run and shout 'they have weapons, they have weapons.' It was total chaos. I looked at her again and Amelia started having a panic attack, which caused her to have an asthma attack and she couldn't breathe."

Newton quickly grabbed his daughter by the arm and ran to the front of the stage, knocking down a security barrier to find a quiet place where he could breathe. However, a security guard who did not know what had happened returned to lead mother and daughter to the arena, where the victims of the attack had gathered.

"While we were going around the corner, there were people lying down, screaming and complaining," adds Newton. "The bomb squad arrived and told us to run, but Amelia could not move. It was completely frozen. I could not do anything".

For Newton and Thompson, the nightmare ended at 6 a.m., when a couple of friendly strangers drove them to a nearby hotel for Thompson's grandparents to pick them up to take home.

"Amelia collapsed," says Newton about the time his relatives arrived. "Then we got in the vehicle and my mother said, 'I think you need to go to a hospital' because my heart was still beating fast."

Since that night, Thompson has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has had multiple counseling sessions to try to assimilate what she witnessed. At one point he lost a lot of weight and they also had to do a throat biopsy since the intensity of his screams during the attack affected his vocal cords.

“She has changed - she is no longer the same as before. It's not the old Amelia, says Newton. “It's like a 20-year-old girl in the body of a 12-year-old girl. I'm sure the same thing happens to many of the young people who were at the concert.

“He lost a lot of confidence in people and isolated himself. This has made me see people in a different way."

For Newton, the focus now is simply to make sure Amelia gets up with a smile on her lips, which revolves around watching The Ellen Show before going to school. "It's fun and she laughs a lot," says Newton. "He likes Ellen very much!"

Thompson also started horseback riding in October and has become very attached to a 3-year-old named Victor who can't ride yet, but who "loves" caring and pampering. Thanks to the invitation from Kensington Palace, she also has something that encourages her: shopping. Thompson is determined to look her best and is looking for a ball gown with matching shoes.

"I think she hopes to meet some of the princes," adds Newton. “But she will be happy anyway. I just hope she has a good time and that it is a positive experience for her.”

“We never expect this. It is wonderful. She is very excited. She sits in heaven and smiles all the time. It has stimulated her a lot.”

Thompson adds: “It will help me, but many people will come, so I am quite nervous, but I am also very happy to go. I can not wait!.

"I want to spend the day with Sharon and see Meghan's dress, and the royal family."

"My favorite is Prince Harry," he concludes. "It seems so nice."

Translated by Carmen Orozco

This article originally appeared on People.com