The chair of a Bolton Ukrainian Group has been left feeling proud and excited after he received an invitation from the Princess of Wales inviting him to join her at a carol service next week.
Bolton Branch Chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn and his daughter will be attending a carol service at Westminster Abbey tonight.
Yaroslaw had known for some time he was invited by the Lord Lieutenant Diane Hawkins to the event, but he didn’t expect to receive an invitation in the post or the chance to meet the Princess of Wales.
The invitation sent to Yaroslaw said: “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, supported by The Royal Foundation and with grateful thanks to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey, requests the pleasure of the company of Mr. Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn.”
The carol service will take place on December 15 at 5pm and according to Yaroslaw it will be shown on the BBC.
Yaroslaw said: “I think my invitation has come through the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Diane Hawkins, she gets to invite four people from Greater Manchester to this event and I am one of the four she has selected this year which I am so grateful for.
“I feel proud, and I feel like this is recognition for everybody who has worked at our branch, its not just me although I am the figurehead, there is many people who have done loads of work who have gone unrecognised.
“I think this is recognition for all their work in the Bolton Branch of the AUGB, supporting the Ukrainians.
“It’s just marvellous and when I saw the envelope in the post box and it was from Buckingham Palace I was like, what?
“I didn’t expect to receive an invitation, I knew I was being invited but I never expected to actually get an invitation via Buckingham Palace and the possibility of meeting the Princess of Wales.”
Yaroslaw said it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
He said: “I am absolutely looking forward to the event, this is a once in the lifetime.
“When you think about it, how many people in Great Britain get the opportunity to meet a member of the Royal Family?
“I’ve got a brand-new embroidered shirt and it has definitely got to be worn on that day, I think it is so special.”
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