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Royal Caribbean announces winner of Club Royal wedding competition

A Thomas Cook agent has won a £25,000 wedding courtesy of Royal Caribbean.

Natasha Russell and her partner Bradley Ashford will get married on board Oasis of the Seas next summer with an all-expenses paid wedding plus accommodation for six guests.

The couple from Barry first dated when Natasha was 16 and Bradley was 24 but broke it off due to their age difference.

They met again 25 years later after both having families of their own and have now been together four years and actually got engaged after seeing the competition.

Natasha said: “I saw the competition and said right we can do this, now is our time and we can win this to have an incredible wedding.

“Now we have won I feel completely overwhelmed. I have always known that Bradley was my destiny from when I was 16-years-old to when he added me as a friend on Facebook four years ago.

“We cannot wait especially as we are bringing both our children, my young girls and Brad’s children who are a bit older. They will have an amazing time on Oasis of the Seas.

“I just can’t wait to finally be Mrs Ashford.”

The pair competed against nine other agents and their other halves to reach the final, held at the Eccleston Square Hotel in London.

During the final the couples took part in Mr and Mrs-style challenges and then faced an interview with the judging panel.

The judges were relationship expert and scientist, Dr Anna Machin, editor-in-chief of Travel Weekly Lucy Huxley and Royal Caribbean’s Amanda Darrington and Nicki Lewis.

panel

After judging and discussions, Natasha and Bradley were chosen over the two other couples.

Dr Anna Machin, who has worked as a relationship expert on television shows such as Married at First Sight, said the couples story of rekindling a teen romance made them stand out from the other couples.

“I think Natasha and Bradley are a beautiful couple and their story of being apart for 25 years and then now being reunited it wonderful.

“From what I have seen throughout the competition they are very mutually supportive of each other and entwined.”

Stacey Collis and Martin Warren from Hays Travel in County Durham and Joanne Graham from Travel Counsellors and her partner Andrew Halstead from Accrington in Lancashire were the runners up but still walked away with a three-night cruise on Independence of the Seas in October next year.

Amanda Darrington, Royal Caribbean sales director, said: “The final has been so emotionally draining mixed with excitement, tears and lots of emotion.

“We are really delighted for Natasha and Bradley as they are the worthy winners.

“I am certain their extended family will have an amazing time on board Oasis and we are bringing the extraordinary in to their lives with the experience.

“Due to the strength of the competition entries and our amazing finalists we extended our prizes to the lovely runner up couples for a sailing on the refurbished Independence of the Seas next year.”

Watch the video of the winning moment below…

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