Prince makes it a joyful ‘Cinderella day’ for ex-homeless woman

Last week it was revealed Prince William had sent a wedding invitation to the young woman whom he met at a gala for a homeless charity last summer.

On Friday, 20-year-old Shozna, whose surname has not been revealed, will be whisked off to a secret location to undergo a special royal makeover before she takes her seat among royals, A-list celebrities and foreign dignitaries at Westminster Abbey to witness William and Kate Middleton say “I do”.

In October 2009, Shozna, from east London, suffered a stroke which paralysed the right side of her body and left her unable to speak. Months later, after intense speech therapy and physiotherapy, she became homeless at the age of 18 and was helped by charity Centrepoint, of which William has been patron since 2005.

Shozna will be donning a £1,500 dress by celebrity fashion designer Raishma Islam, who says it will be “fit for a princess”, made from silk hand-dyed in India and embellished with hand-sewn beading and embroidery. Her shoes are from Jimmy Choo, complete with matching bag, while her hair and make-up will be done by Warren Holmes, creative international director for Nicky Clarke, and make-up artist Armand Beasley.

The young wedding guest said: “I love the dress and I never thought in a million years I’d one day own a pair of Jimmy Choos. I can’t thank everyone who has donated everything enough. It has been the most exciting time of my life.”