Published: Saturday, 4th July, 2009 2:00pm

Chloe is a queen for a day

by Brian Hossack

Print | Email

A FORMER Greenock girl enjoyed a right royal birthday as she celebrated a landmark day at the Scottish Parliament after travelling from her home in Canada.

Chloe McDonald was one of 163 children born in Scotland on 1 July 1999, the same day the Scottish Parliament was established.

Chloe met the Queen at the Scottish Parliament as the landmark anniversary was celebrated on Wednesday.

She travelled from Ontario in Canada, along with family members, to Edinburgh to visit Holyrood and take part in the Parliament"s birthday party.

The 10-year-old has been filming her trip and the event yesterday to make a documentary to show her fellow students at her school in Canada. She said: 'It was very exciting meeting the Queen and Prince Philip.

'They were both very nice and seemed to find it interesting that I had come all the way from Canada to be there.

'Meeting them was something I will never forget and the highlight of the day for me.

'I also got a card from the Parliament, as well as some birthday cake, a chocolate coin and some souvenirs to remember the day.'

Mum Emily, gran Christine and sister Bethany joined Chloe at the parliament party, where the occasion was marked by Her Majesty.

The youngsters were thrilled to meet the Queen and also enjoyed tucking into a giant birthday cake and taking part in special birthday activities.

Christine told the Tele: 'Chloe made some good friends on the day and I was very proud of how she

handled it all.

'It was hard to put into words how exciting the whole day was and

the staff there couldn"t do enough for us.

'All of the children signed a book, along with the Queen, to mark the occasion.

'The book is going into the national archives, so that is quite something for Chloe and the other children to have been part of.'

The Queen addressed MSPs and guests in the chamber before meeting the children.

For more stories and your full round up of what's happening in Greenock you can purchase the e-edition of the Greenock Telegraph click here.