Royal Visit Middlesbrough: Teen skips exam to meet king

Lewis Langstaff-Wood, 16, has managed to avoid a mock exam to be in Middlesbrough for the royal visit today. 

Lewis is in Year 11 at St John's Catholic School and Sixth Form currently preparing for his GCSEs. 

Lewis Langstaff-wood, 16, and his mother Laura, 41. (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO) Lewis said: “ I’m an aspiring royal photographer and I had to be here. This is the first time a Monarch has been to the North East in 20 years. I managed to get out of a mock exam for it - and the school have allowed me to be here today.

“I’ve been here today since 9 am. I wanted to be here early to get the spot so I can get good shots.”

READ MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON THE ROYAL VISIT:

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• Anti-monarchy protestors gather ahead of King's visit to North East

Lewis has already met Charles once before when the then Prince of Wales visited Bishop Auckland in 2022.

His mother, Laura, 41, added: "He wants to be a royal photographer and he's very good at his class, as well as at school. So I do what it takes for my kid... also I love the banter here, you meet great people."