A WOMAN from West Devon last week received a surprise invitation to the most hotly-anticipated event of the year — the wedding of Prince Henry of Wales and Meghan Markle.

Val Bolitho, chair of Milton Combe Village Hall and a member of Buckland Monachorum Parish Council, received the priceless invite on April 5 by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

Val was invited to attend the grounds of Windsor Castle for the wedding thanks to her services to the community.

‘I received the letter on April 5 by the Devon Lieutenant inviting me to share in the wedding day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle,’ said Val.

‘I was invited as part of 1,200 members of the public who have been nominated on the strength of their continued contributions to their local community — I was delighted.’

Prince Harry, 33, and Meghan Markle, 36, announced their engagement in November last year. They will marry at St George’s Chapel in Windsor at noon on Saturday, May 19 — a break from tradition as Royal weddings are normally held on a weekday.

‘I have been invited to enter the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch the guests arrive at the Royal wedding, listen to the service and watch the procession leave,’ said Val.

‘You don’t often get invited to these events so it is definitely exciting.

‘I am someone who spends her life in jeans but I have got a nice dress and a nice jacket for the event and I am very much looking forward to the wedding. Thanks to whoever nominated me — I think I know who is was but I am not telling!’

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced on Monday that they would like people to donate to charities instead of sending wedding presents. They have chosen seven charities: CHIVA (Children’s HIV Association); Crisis; The Myna Mahila Foundation; Scotty’s Little Soldiers; StreetGames; Surfers Against Sewage; The Wilderness Foundation UK. More than £1-million was raised when Prince William and Kate Middleton asked the public to donate when they married in 2011.