​Couple With Down Syndrome Crowned Prom King And Queen By Classmates

One often reads about the sweetest prom stories, where teens find love, friendship and more, but I think this one is my favorite.

At the end of their end-of-term dance, two teens with Down Syndrome were crowned prom queen and king and were rather thrilled about it.

The 16 year old sweethearts, Amelie Barker an Dylan Hughes attend Monmouth Comprehensive School in Monmouthshire, Wales.

Dylan’s mother Victoria Hughes, 45, said:

“He came home at midnight a very happy young man. Dylan didn’t want to take his crown and sash off – he was really thrilled.”

The pair have known each other since they were toddlers and started dating earlier this year.

3 when they first met, Amelie’s mother, Katherina and Victoria set up ’21 Plus’ – a charity fr parents with children who have Down Syndrome.

The pair attended different primary schools, but soon became great friends when they simultaneously joined Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Victoria, of Raglan in Monmouthshire, continued:

“They have become very close over the last 18 months and we all started to realise there was a romance going on.

“Then in March Dylan asked me if he could take Amelie out on a date. They wanted to go to Pizza Express together, just the two of them. It was a lovely idea.”

She added:

“The manager and staff were really helpful, they kept an eye and had my telephone number just in case.

“Dylan and Amelie were so excited, I was the one that was a bit nervous. I wanted to hide in the car around the corner.

“But it went off beautifully, they really enjoyed their first date just like any other teenagers.”

The pair have been spending a lot of time together, with Dylan doing the sweetest things like presenting Amelie with flowers before dates.

Victoria continued:

“It’s got quite serious and they are declaring everlasting love for each other.

“There was only ever going to be one girl that Dylan wanted to take to the prom.

“Their school friends think it’s very sweet and we knew they had planned a surprise at the prom.

“The evening was in full swing when we had a call to say Dylan and Amelie had been voted prom king and queen. They both thought it was fabulous.”

Aside from being a massive sport fanatic, playing rugby came naturally to Dylan, along with being in the GB Down Syndrome swimming team, which sees him training to participate in the EU Champs in Sardinia in September of this year.

Victoria said:

“It should be the norm that children with Down syndrome are in mainstream education and go on to jobs and live independently.

“We all have high expectations for our children so, as a family, we think of these things as normal – why shouldn’t they be?

“We should be celebrating the fact that Dylan and Amelie are part of the community and part of the school.

“They weren’t picked as king and queen of the prom because they have Down syndrome but because they are really popular pupils and everyone is really happy for them.”

The school, which is home to 1,600 pupils hosted the event at Chase Hotel in Ross-on-Wye.

Hayley Page, assistant headteacher for inclusion, said:

“Our culture and belief is that every child attends their local school and our aim is that every child can be independent, resilient and able to lead their lives.

“The great esteem held for the Dylan and Amelie and their popularity within our Year 11 led to them being voted as prom king and queen by their peers.

“This recognises the level of inclusivity and the values held by our school community.”

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