TENOR saxophonist Bethanie Burford of Coleford will be performing for the Duke of Edinburgh and the Dutchess of Cornwall at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

Bethanie, 17, was part of the Air Training Corps National Concert Band last year and spent the February half term holiday playing with RAF Cranwell.

This year she has been selected again and will be playing the national anthem with 40 other musicians to welcome guests to a garden party at the Palace.

Bethanie has been in Lydney ATC for three years and has been playing the saxophone for four years, already reaching grade seven level.

Although she has stopped lessons now, she is still playing at the same level and also plays the clarinet.

Bethanie is studying at Sir Thomas Rich's School, Gloucester and is taking AS Levels in maths, further maths, history and politics this year.

Next year she hopes to do AS chemistry in addition to her A2s and is considering applying for ancient history and archaeology courses at university.

She said: "I can almost guarantee that I will be pretty nervous just before we play, but the national anthem is quite an easy piece to play and I can play quietly if I need to!"