Tony Hudgell to miss Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace because of M20 delays

Tony Hudgell to miss Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace because of M20 delays

News Hour

It looks like brave Tony Hudgell is going to miss his chance to attend the King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

Tony, nine, and his mum Paula are among the hundreds of motorists stuck in a non-moving line of traffic on the M20 between Wrotham and Swanley after a lorry fire.

Tony Hudgell is stuck in the trafficTony Hudgell is stuck in the traffic
Tony Hudgell is stuck in the traffic

Mrs Hudgell said: “Tony is very, very sad, we both are.

“But I think there is no way we are going to make it in time.”

For security purposes, guests are expected to arrive by 3pm for a 4pm start.

Tony, from West Malling, had to have both his legs amputated after suffering horrendous abuse as a baby at the hands of his birth parents.

He later inspired the nation by raising £2m for charity in 2020 by undertaking a 10km walk on his prosthetic legs.

We can’t even turn around and go home.

Mrs Hudgell said: “It’s just one of those things. The important thing is that no-one was injured in whatever has caused this delay.

“Unfortunately, we’ve just been stuck here for about two hours. We can’t even turn around and go home.”

Traffic in both directions of the M20 is currently being held due to a lorry on fire and smoke drifting across the carriageway.

Emergency vehicles are at the scene.

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