Fundraiser Tony Hudgell gets special royal invite after missing Palace party

Tony Hudgell was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the prevention of child abuse (Ian Vogler/PA)

By Helen William, PA

A nine-year-old double amputee who missed the King’s garden party after getting struck in traffic for hours has received a special invitation from the palace to make up for it.

Tony Hudgell, of West Malling, Kent, was “hugely excited” when his invitation to the Buckingham Palace party came after he was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the prevention of child abuse in the New Year’s Honours.