Red Crossers take in royal visit to Slave Lake

 

CRC volunteer Jean MacNeil gives flowers to Kate.
CRC volunteer Jean MacNeil gives flowers to Kate.
Royals arrive.
Royals arrive.
Red Cross volunteers await the royal arrival in Slave Lake.
Red Cross volunteers await the royal arrival in Slave Lake.
Red Cross volunteers await the royal couple.
Red Cross volunteers await the royal couple.
Duchess chats with Red Cross volunteer.
Duchess chats with Red Cross volunteer.
Prince William accepts Red Cross book from volunteer Nick Conradi.
Prince William accepts Red Cross book from volunteer Nick Conradi.
Guest blog by Leila Daoud, Alberta Public Affairs

 

Jean MacNeil from Antigonish, Nova Scotia is, in many respects, a typical royal watcher. A grandmother with eight children and many grandchildren, Jean has the latest tea towels commemorating the marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton, along with dishes, towels and souvenirs commemorating various royal events dating back to 1937.  “I love them, I really love them,” Jean says of the Royals. But Jean is much more than a typical royal watcher.  Rather than enjoying the summer by the ocean at home, Jean, a Canadian Red Cross volunteer, is in Slave Lake, helping those who were impacted by the May 15 wildfires.  Everyday Jean listens to the stories of local residents who are sometimes in despair, and offers the kind of compassion and warm smile only a grandmother can provide.

Her royal passion was raised with news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would visit Slave Lake on July 6. Standing by the barricade, Jean held a red geranium. When Kate Middleton and Prince William emerged from Slave Lake’s Northern Lakes College, Jean was ready.

“Prince William came up to me and he shook my hand!” she exclaimed after her brief encounter.  “He said ‘Oh, the Red Cross! Good work!’” Jean was thrilled, but she held on to her red flower knowing she wanted to give it to the Duchess of Cambridge. “Kate came right up to me and took the flower. She looked right at me and said ‘Thank you very much! You’re with the Red Cross?’ I said yes and she smiled and said: ‘That’s lovely.’”

The thrill of meeting the royal newlyweds was overwhelming. As tears rolled down Jean’s face her fellow Red Cross volunteers gathered around to ask her how she felt. “I was so excited! I can’t believe this happened to me. I am thrilled to be able to tell my grandchildren and all my friends back home.” 

More on the royal visit.

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