9-year-old boy from Kent gets special royal invite
Tony from Kent has received a royal invitation from Buckingham Palace
A 9-year-old boy from Kent has received a royal invitation from Buckingham Palace after missing the King's garden party due to a traffic jam.
Tony, from West Malling, had both legs amputated after he was abused as a baby, but after making a positive impact in the community was invited along to London.
His family were among the hundreds of motorists stuck in a non-moving line of traffic on the M20 after a lorry fire.
The royal family posted on social media that they were sorry to hear he couldn't make it and have invited him and his family to try another day.
Garden Parties are held each summer to invitees who have made a positive impact in their community.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a lorry alight on the M20 London-bound, between Junction 3 for the M26 for Junction 1 for the M25.
Three fire engines, a bulk water carrier and the technical rescue unit were sent to the scene, where crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets and covering jets to extinguish the flames.
Firefighters gave first aid to one person for minor smoke inhalation.
The boy's adoptive mum, Paula Hudgell, said the response had put "a big beam" on his face and Tony went to bed knowing he was missed.