Royal wedding invitation for social enterprise worker

Volunteer social enterprise worker Amy Wright is "very excited" at her invitation to the royal wedding but views it as an accolade for the whole team she works with.

The 26-year-old is chair of the board of directors for The Usual Place cafe in Dumfries, which provides employability and training opportunities for young adults with additional support needs.

She has been invited to share Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding day on May 19 along with Heather Hall, chief executive of The Usual Place.

They were nominated by the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries and were delighted to be invited to the wedding day.

Ms Wright, from Annan in Dumfries and Galloway, said: "It was a major surprise to the whole Usual Place team that we got this invitation.

"I didn't realise there were going to be public guests at the Royal Wedding and I feel as part of this team very proud at being picked.

"I think it's amazing for the whole team at The Usual Place but also for Dumfriesshire."

She added: "I'm very much looking forward to going. I do try to keep up with what the younger royals are doing because there's not that much age difference between us.

"I think it's quite amazing that Prince Harry and Meghan have invited a large number of the public to their wedding."

Last month the Prince and Ms Markle announced thousands of people will be invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle to share their wedding day.

Kensington Palace said 1,200 members of the public will be among a crowd of 2,640 allowed in to watch the arrivals of the bride and groom and their guests at St George's Chapel on May 19, and see the newlyweds start their carriage procession through Windsor.

Set in a former church, The Usual Place provides work experience and training opportunities for young people aged between 16 to 26 who need extra support to fulfil their potential.

Miss Wright, who has been involved with The Usual Place since it was conceived in 2011, said: "Heather and I are going but we are representing the whole of The Usual Place team and all the work our staff and directors do as a team and the work we do to create these opportunities to give the young people the opportunities they deserve."