STRATHFIELDSAYE’S Lucy O’Connell had a royal moment of her own walking the red carpet at the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition opening on Saturday.
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Lucy, 10, was chosen by Bendigo Art Gallery out of 130 of her grade 3 and 4 classmates for her watercolour painting of the iconic Alexandra Fountain to be presented to Princess Charlene of Monaco during her visit.
The fountain, funded by proceeds of the Bendigo Juvenile and Industrial exhibition, was similarly opened by Welsh royalty in 1881.
However, Lucy and her mother Sandy O’Connell did not expect they would be meeting the princess in person.
“We were told Lucy was allowed to wear a dress instead of her school uniform and she might be able to hand over the painting personally,” Mrs O’Connell said.
“I thought she would be giving it to (the princess’s) minder or someone else.
“Once the general public had left they told Lucy she could walk the red carpet – so my 10-year-old walked up the spiral staircase to find Princess Charlene standing at the top waiting to greet her.”
Watched by VIP guests and photographers, Lucy presented her artwork to the recently crowned princess and says she received a hug and kiss on the cheek in return.
“She was really pretty and nice, and she smelt like flowers,” she said.
“Princess Charlene thanked me and said when she went home she would ask Albert where they would hang it in the house. She said she wanted to put it in her bedroom.”
Lucy said her one regret was that she hadn’t left a message under the frame for the Princess Charlene.
“Dad said I should have written a message on the back of the painting to say we’re coming to Monaco soon, and if there was any chance of staying in a spare room,” she said.
About 100 Strathfieldsaye Primary students and their parents lined View Street for the royal arrival after the school’s name was drawn from a hat.
Students were asked to submit a painting to Bendigo Art Gallery of what made Bendigo a special place.
Gallery education officer Margot Feast thanked everyone for their hard work. “We wanted to tell them from next week all of their artworks would go up online on the gallery’s new website,” she said.
“They will all receive a certificate thanking them for their participation.’’
