Royal wedding invitation 'pleasant surprise' for ex-Royal Marine

A former Royal Marine's love of rally cars led to him leading a charity helping ex-service personnel and has now seen him invited to the royal wedding.

Grant White, 52, spent 23 years as a commando, leaving in 2008 as a warrant officer after being medically discharged, and is now head of operations for the Race2Recovery charity.

The charity, which runs an off-road team that has competed in the Dakar Rally, provides opportunities in motorsport for people who have suffered life-changing injuries.

Mr White, who lost his right leg below the knee in a hit-and-run road accident, said: "It was a very pleasant surprise and it caught me slightly off-guard, I must admit.

"It is a fantastic opportunity and a great occasion."

He has not met Prince Harry personally but has met other royals during his long military career.

Mr White, who lives in Dorset but is originally from Leicester, started out as a beneficiary of Race2Recovery because of a keen interest in motorsport before working for the charity.

"The priority will always be wounded, injured and sick service personnel," he said.

"The big area we are hitting on now is mental health and we are getting a lot of PTSD. In the old days it was all amputees, people like me, and wheelchair users. I am now trying to push people's mental boundaries.

"We are still a very small charity but the bang for our buck we provide is quite significant."

He added: "I see the invitation as me representing Race2Recovery at the wedding rather than me going along to a jolly for the day.

"I can't wait, and my wife is very excited."