A VOLUNTEER will rub shoulders with royalty when she picks up the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award at Buckingham Palace.

Katrina Morton, 20, of Darkwood Lane, Samlesbury will travel down to London on July 17 after completing the award's stages.

She will be among 2,000 other award winners and celebrities for a Royal Garden Party with HRH Prince Philip.

It has taken her 18 months to complete the stages -- an expedition to Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, a charity walk for Friends of Chernobyl's Children, skills in dressmaking, mountain biking and a leadership course with the Rotary.

She achieved her award eighteen months after linking up with the Blackburn with Darwen Youth Service.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been running for more than 40 years and offers young people the challenge to try new things, learn more about themselves and help their community. Last year 103,000 people aged 14-25 took up the challenge awards.