Laura Norton has the best possible reason for taking a day off school next week - she will be mingling with royalty.
The 13-year-old Northallerton schoolgirl will be presented to the Duke of Gloucester when he visits Thirsk, on Tuesday.
Laura will be the guest of Hambleton District Council chairman Denis Howey, when the Duke takes a tour of the World of James Herriot Centre.
Laura won a day with the chairman in a fundraising auction of promises, at the Allertonshire School, last year.
Her mother, Beverley, said: "When we bought this day at the auction, we had no idea she would be mixing with royalty as a result. She is very excited and a little nervous about the event, but feels very lucky."
The Duke will spend more than an hour at the Herriot centre, after opening a £480,000 St John Ambulance training centre in the morning.
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