Camilla was hosting a tea party for Dreams And Wishes – a charity which helps seriously ill children and their families build precious memories.
A seriously ill seven-year-old boy took his shot at “saying yes to life” by getting the Queen to present his Scouts bravery medal.
Rupert Williams was among six children enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime tea party hosted by Camilla at Clarence House, complete with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage down The Mall and a treasure hunt at the royal residence.
It was part of an event for Dreams And Wishes – a charity dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families build precious memories.
Camilla soon got stuck in to her hosting duties as the children sat down for a tea of carefully laid-out goodies including small square sandwiches, biscuits with the children’s names on, jelly plus colourful cupcakes and brownies.
She handed out plates, made sure that everyone was eating, chatted to the adults and then helped when the children excitedly rushed around Clarence House searching for treasure.
Rupert, of Barry, South Wales, brought his Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct medal, awarded to him by scouts, on the off-chance that Camilla might pin it on him.
Watched by his mother, Rupert beamed with pride as Camilla obliged and pinned it to his waistcoat as the children sat down for tea.
Rupert lives with gastrointestinal failure, where the digestive system does not function as it should, and haemophilia A – a condition that affects how his blood clots.
His mother Hannah Williams said: “He was really overwhelmed and gradually he has been getting more excited.
“He has been asking ‘does the Queen have a dragon in her castle?’ As a family we have said this year is just about saying `yes to life’.
“We just need to enjoy these incredible opportunities.”
She said that as the parent of a child with an illness “your main priority is just trying to get them through it and giving them some sort of childhood”.
Rupert has spent a large part of his life in hospital and his award from the Scouts recognises “remarkable commitment to Scouts, demonstrated through continued involvement despite severe illness”, according to the Scouts UK website.
It adds that he makes a point of trying to keep laughing because he says it helps him feel better and he enjoys visits from therapy dogs, especially when he can help look after them.
His mother added that “we don’t try to make a big deal of his illness because he is more than his illness” and “as parents we are also proud of his resilience”.
Rupert even raised a toast to Camilla – with a glass of water – to begin the tea party.
All the children were “really excited” by the carriage ride and were waving to tourists and the police, Ms Williams said.
Camilla held hands with six-year-old Maria Lourenco Belo, of Port Talbot, as the youngster, who was in her purple princess dress, led Camilla to the next clues in the treasure hunt.
The children were told they were being sent on a prince and princess-themed quest to find treasure that had stolen by a wicked wizard who was stopped by two guards at night.
The event ended with each child getting a goodie bag that included a teddy bear dressed as a guard and a large chocolate coin.
Disney-themed music was played by a string quartet throughout the event which ended with Camilla giving each child a hug and kiss.
Dreams And Wishes chairman Tony Curtis said: “The Queen wrote to me when I started the charity in 2011. She writes to me every year after I wish her a Happy Christmas.
“She is fantastic, especially how she spends so much time chatting to the children and the parents.”
He said the charity gave her a clock as a gift “as she has given so much of her time to us”.
Camilla told Mr Curtis “thank you, this is my husband’s favourite” after he handed her a bottle of gin from Wales as another gift.
