Schoolgirl charity ambassador chosen to attend royal wedding

A schoolgirl born with one leg who became a charity ambassador and mental health champion has been picked to attend the royal wedding.

Jorja Furze, 12, is now looking forward to going shopping with her mother for a new dress for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day next month.

Describing her delight at receiving an email invitation last week, the schoolgirl said: "I was really excited and shocked because I didn't think I would get an invite.

"I had been told my name had been mentioned to some people about the wedding, but I didn't think I'd get close to it."

Jorja Furze, 12, is a charity ambassador and mental health champion at her school. (Joe Giddens/PA)
Jorja Furze, 12, is a charity ambassador and mental health champion at her school. (Joe Giddens/PA)

The 12-year-old, who was born with only a right leg, is an ambassador for the Steel Bones charity which supports civilian amputees, she added: "They thought I would be a good candidate.

"I've grown up without a leg and they thought having someone that younger children could relate to would be good."

Jorja from the village of Isleham near Ely has also set up a quiet space at her high school where children with mental health issues can relax.

She said: "Me and my friend both suffer from anxiety and mental health, we decided we should do something because we knew a lot of people had similar problems and we convinced the teacher to let us start this up."

The 12-year-old said she would be taking her mother Gabrielle, 39, to the wedding and would go shopping for a new outfit.

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