TWO Isle of Wight students were invited to Buckingham Palace for an award presentation.

Ben Holdsworth, 18, and Katie MacKenzie, 21, were presented with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Buckingham Palace gardens.

Ben, of Christ the King College, is one of the youngest recipients of the award, and had worked for more than two years to complete it.

Ben's sections for completion included athletics for the physical category, and coaching a Year 7 boys football team for his volunteer category.

Katie, of Sandown Bay Academy, completed most of her sections in school before finishing the award at the University of Portsmouth.

Katie's sections for completion included navigational skills for the skill category, and naval deployment for the residential category.

In attendance were Prince Michael, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, all of whom greeted and addressed the award recipients.

Both Katie and Ben gave their thanks to all the volunteers, supervisors, assessors and coaches that had helped them achieve the prestigious award.

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