Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Finishing touches are being made to a limited-edition commemorative plate designed by a schoolgirl in Bahrain - a copy of which will be handed to Prince William and his sweetheart Kate Middleton after the couple tie the knot at a lavish British royal wedding ceremony on Friday.
Delighted Amalie Nielson won a design competition judged by British Ambassador Jamie Bowden and Anne Barsh of Studio Ceramics who will make just six copies of the piece.
Amalie, from Janabiyah, a Year 2 student at St Christopher's School in Saar who turns seven tomorrow, said: "I like Katherine because she is a girl and she is very pretty. I made the drawing at home in the morning before school and after finishing school activities.
"I love reading but I love drawing best. It is very exciting because I won the overall competition!"
Her winning design, which will surround an official photograph of the celebrated couple, will have the winner's name inscribed on the back. As well as the royal couple, the ambassador's residence in Manama will receive a plate, alongside the school and the winner. The remaining two will be showcased in the studio on Budaiya Highway.
Amalie's hand-drawn painting depicts the romantic touches of the auspicious occasion - flowers, rings, music, crown and wedding bells in cheerful colours - and was the unanimous choice of the judges. The plate is expected to be ready by the beginning of the new term in May.
She clinched the crown for the best designed Royal Wedding commemorative plate in a school competition that saw more than 60 entries from budding artists aged four to 18.
Digby Rushton of Year 3 and Eloise Bevan of Year 10 were adjudged winners in the Junior and Senior School categories. But only Amalie's plate will be made into the collector's item.
Amalie's delighted mother, Line, who is originally from South Korea and was adopted by her Danish parents as a child, said: "My husband Niklas and I are very proud - we were delighted when we heard the news."
Amalie has a track record of design success even at a tender age. An earlier creation was used to promote the school's Year 2 production of Pied Piper through its posters and tickets.
Line added: "Amalie learned about the royal wedding at school. I printed three blank templates for her but she worked on the design completely on her own. She is very independent and dropped the entry off by herself. Unfortunately, I am not very creative so I'm planning special art lessons to support and enhance her natural talent!"
Praising the young artist's work, Anne, the co-owner of Studio Ceramics, said: "I was looking for something that would overall be representative of Bahrain, something that could also celebrate the fairytale romance and translate well on to ceramic.
"The simplicity of the winning plate was very appealing. It has a bold design, an impressive quality especially from such a young child. It is very nicely drawn and is very cheerful and happy."
The Nielson family come from a little Danish town called Fredericia. Niklas, a telecom specialist based in Saudi Arabia, and Line have two other children, Mathias, five, and Sebastian, one.
