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21st April 2023
04:38pm BST
A photo of a four-year-old girl who dreamed of flying before she died was found behind an aeroplane mirror - eight years after her grandparents hid it there.
Grace Kelly passed away in November 2014 from a rare kidney tumour.
Six weeks after her death, her grandparents booked a flight on Monarch Airlines, taking a picture of Grace onto the plane with them.
The photo was of her sitting in a plane on a funfair ride.
They then hid the snap of their beloved granddaughter behind. a bathroom mirror on the plane.
They wrote on the back of the photo: "Our little angel had always wanted to fly - so she flies with Monarch - hidden away for as long as possible.
"Happy travels darling Grace, you made our life just perfect for all too short a time."
For more than eight years, the picture remained hidden, before it was eventually found during a routine check of the plane by two airline mechanics in Florida.
Cullen Johns and Shaun Brown found the picture while they worked on the Frontier Airbus A320 on February 20.
The workers managed to get in touch with Grace's mother, Dr Jen Kelly, on Facebook to tell her about the touching discovery.
They said they would keep the picture on the plane as a tribute to her daughter.
Dr Kelly, who founded The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust in her daughter’s memory, said: “I am so proud of Grace and all that she has managed to achieve.
“I always knew that Grace would move mountains.
"This is not the way anyone would have chosen, but now Grace is not only moving mountains but soaring above them too.
“She never had the chance to fly in a plane, so to know she is flying around high in the clouds is truly special.
"We are so thankful to Frontier Airlines for keeping Grace on board and we are truly grateful they tracked us down to let us know.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has made this possible for our girl.
“It feels so special to know that Grace’s photo has been flying for so many years and continues to do so.”
Frontier Airlines say Grace's picture will remain inside Aircraft N228FR which is identified by a picture of Orville the red cardinal bird painted on the tail of the aircraft.
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