Not many 17-year-olds can say they have been invited to lunch with the Queen but for Gordano School head boy Charlie Gazzard, mixing with royalty is something he is used to.

Earlier in the year, in recognition of his commitment and dedication to the Air Training Corps, the sixth form student was made a Lord-Lieutenant's Cadet and as a result assists the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset with a variety of duties which includes being on parade for Royal visits.

Since his appointment Charlie has met Princess Anne and greeted the Countess of Wessex as she arrived for a school visit at Gordano. However there were no duties to perform at a luncheon with the Queen when she visited Kings Bruton School in Somerset, as Charlie was on the guest list. He said: "It was a great honour to be invited to the lunch and I was quite in awe being in Her Majesty's presence, however she chatted away to people and actually it was all very relaxed and extremely enjoyable."

Charlie's love of flying has seen him dedicate his spare time to the Air Training Corps in Portishead. This year he got his wings for flying solo and once he has completed his A levels the teenager hopes to enrol in Flying School at the L3 Airline Academy. n