Paul O'Grady could help welcome members of the royal family to the county after being appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

The TV personality will now carry out duties to support the Lord Lieutenant of Kent – The King’s official representative in the county.

The position involves greeting and accompanying royalty and heads of state during official visits to the county as well as presenting awards.

Mr O'Grady, who lives in Aldington near Ashford, will also participate in citizenship ceremonies, offer advice during the organisation of events, and help community groups raise awareness of their work.

He has been appointed along with six others, taking the number of Deputy Lieutenants in Kent to 63.

He joins Judith Armitt (Medway); Sir Stephen Deuchar CBE (Ashford); Tracy Luke MBE (Folkestone and Hythe); Mr James Ryeland (Dover); Gurvinder Sandher MBE (Dartford); Susie Warran-Smith CBE (Folkestone and Hythe) in taking up the role.

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain, says she is thrilled to be able to welcome these "outstanding" new Deputy Lieutenants.

"Their wide breadth of experience will further enhance an already strong team of deputies who support the Lord-Lieutenant and act as the eyes and ears for the lieutenancy throughout our wonderfully diverse county," she said.

O'Grady, who will represent the Ashford area in his new role, recently encouraged Singleton's Graham Sutherland to publish a book he had written in lockdown.

The first-time author says he wouldn't have released his novel, which is set in World War Two, if he hadn't had O'Grady's support.

He posted the book through Mr O'Grady's letterbox and asked him to read it, and the TV and radio star told him to get it published.