Camilla hosts Clarence House tea party for seriously ill children,
The Queen created ‘very precious memories’ for seriously ill children as she hosted a tea party and treasure hunt for six youngsters at Clarence House today.
The children, who are supported by the charity Dreams and Wishes, had a royal time as Camilla, 78, served tea and cake, helped the youngsters find clues as they searched for chocolate treasure and handed out party bags.
For the occasion, Camilla opted to wear a green silk peacock feather print dress from Katya Wildman.
She paired the tie-up frock with diamond and turquoise earrings and kept her makeup looking fresh and dewy.
Camilla greeted the children in the Morning Room of her London residence, where the children were enjoying a medley of Disney tunes played by a string quartet when she told them: ‘Hello, I hear you arrived here by carriage!’
The group had travelled by horse-drawn carriage from The Royal Mews to Clarence House, waving to tourists and passers by in what one mother described as ‘an insane and very special moment’.
She had a brief chat with each of the children and their parents, telling Maria Lourenco Belo, six, that her lilac princess dress was ‘very pretty and remarking that 10-year-old Roman Davies’s three-piece suit was “very smart”.
The Queen then led them through to another room where an impressive spread of sandwiches, cakes and fruit awaited them.
The Queen created ‘very precious memories’ for seriously ill children as she hosted a tea party and treasure hunt for six youngsters at Clarence House today
Rupert Williams, 7, raises a toast to Queen Camilla at today’s royal tea party
She started handing out plates to each of the children, encouraging them to take as much food as possible.‘It’s all for you,’ she said. ‘See how much you can cram in.’
In the middle of the table, there was a tray of biscuits with each of the names on, and the Queen stood by it and told each of them: ‘See if you can find yours.’
When she got to Rupert, she noticed that he had a medal next to him on the table. Asking what it was for, he went shy and his mother, Hannah Williams, told her that he had been awarded the Chief Scouts Commendation for Meritous Conduct at Windsor Castle just two weeks ago.
His Beaver group had nominated him for showing Scouting values in the face of adversity.
At the age of three, he was diagnosed with intestinal failure and chronic obstruction and has been dependent on a life-sustaining but high-risk treatment called Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) since then.
Rupert, who continues to attend school and his Beaver group when possible, also has adrenal insufficiency due to repeated doses of steroids and a bleeding disorder called Haemophilia Type A.
His mother told the Queen: ‘Ru wanted to bring the medal with him in the hope you might pin it on him, but now he’s gone shy.’
Camilla immediately said: ‘Well, we’d better put it on then! It’s so impressive.’
Speaking afterwards, Ms Williams said Rupert has been ‘so excited’ to meet the Queen, adding: ‘He has been asking, does the Queen have a dragon in her castle?’
The group had travelled by horse-drawn carriage from The Royal Mews to Clarence House
They were greeted with an impressive spread of sandwiches, cakes and fruit awaited them.
Queen Camilla had a brief chat with each of the children and their parents
‘Today has created some very precious moments for us. Travelling through London in a carriage was an insane and very special moment. It was unbelievable, we were all waving at the tourists.’
Having found his courage, Rupert later stood up and gave a toast to the Queen. Holding his water glass up, he said: ‘I have a toast to the Queen. Thank you for having this lovely meal. To the Queen.’
Mr Curtis then gave a few words, gifting the Queen a bottle of gin, whiskey, a clock and some plants for the garden.
‘Thank you, this is my husband’s favourite,’ she said, as she took the bottle of gin.
He told her: ‘I can’t tell you how much it means to the families and to the charity.’
The Queen then handed over to her aptly named equerry, Major Treasure, who tasked them with a treasure hunt.
He told the children that a wicked wizard had stolen the Queen’s treasure last night, but had fortunately dropped the treasure when two Grenadier Guards caught him in the act – but he needed their help to find where the treasure had ended up.
He handed each of them a series of clues, with the Queen immediately walking over to them to help.
She held Maria’s hand as they walked around the ground floor of Clarence House, finding more clues as they went.
They eventually discovered the treasure – a giant gold coin from the Royal Collection Shop (RCS) – was hidden in the guards’ bearskin hats and a chest behind them.
In a sweet moment, Camilla pinned Rupert’s medal after he received the Chief Scouts Commendation for Meritous Conduct at Windsor Castle
Congratulating the children on a job well done, the Queen then handed each of them a party bag with pencils, a key ring and a guard teddy from the RCS for them to take home.
‘It has been very nice having you,’ she told them, as they gathered around her and excitedly opened up the presents. ‘Behave yourself on the way home.’
Rupert then went in for a hug, and she happily returned, planting a kiss on his head.
Mr Curtis said afterwards that it meant so much to the charity that the Queen had invited them here today.
Dreams and Wishes, which is entirely volunteer-run, supports children with serious illness by granting wishes, arranging parties, days out and events to create precious memories.
Earlier in the day, Camilla reunited with TikTok sensation Spudman during an event at the British Library in London, six months after they bonded over a shared love of spuds.
Her Majesty caught up with Ben Newman, instantly recognisable by his pink mohawk, at the Big Lunch event to mark the National Year of Reading.
The Queen was seen having a very animated chat with Ben, who sells £5 jacket potatoes from his trailer in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and has gained over 4 million followers on TikTok by sharing clips of his business.
The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual celebration bringing millions of neighbours and communities together in a nationwide act of friendship on the first weekend in June every year since 2009.
Camilla, who has been patron of the Big Lunch since 2013, was all smiles as she posed for pictures with Paddington Bear before speaking to young guests and well-wishers at the event.
The Queen first crossed paths with Spudman when he travelled to Clarence House last November.
Her Majesty, 78, caught up with Ben Newman, instantly recognisable by his pink mohawk, at the Big Lunch event at the British Library to mark the National Year of Reading today
Buckingham Palace’s culinary team likely doesn’t specialise in something as humble as the jacket potato, but that didn’t stop Queen Camilla from pulling her sleeves up and dishing out the tasty meal alongside foodie sensation Spudman last November
For the occasion, Camilla opted to wear a green silk peacock feather print dress from Katya Wildman
She paired the tie-up frock with diamond and turquoise earrings and kept her makeup looking fresh and dewy
The Queen pictured chatting with a young guest at the Big Lunch event as they tuck into a scones and pastries
She also posed for a picture with young Poet Laureates Maya (L) and Latifah
Camilla rolled up her sleeves to serve jacket potatoes to visitors with Ben, as the pair wore matching purple aprons while dishing out piping hot jacket potatoes.
Toppings included beans, tuna, and Coronation chicken, with TV personalities Tom Read Wilson and Gaby Roslin tucking into their spuds with relish.
It comes after Queen Camilla inaugurated a unique rooftop ‘ward’ at a south London hospital yesterday.
The outdoor ward at St George’s Hospital in Tooting will be used by patients being treated for serious brain injuries, tumours and strokes.
The garden has seen a previously inaccessible space transformed into a tranquil open-air oasis connected to the intensive care unit at the hospital.
King Charles’s wife was typically elegant in a navy, polka-dotted dress that she accessorised with a bracelet from her favourite jewellery brand, Van Cleef & Arpels.
The queen also wore a pair of pearl drop earrings and finished her look with a gemstone pendant, as Camilla opted for a fuss-free and dewy makeup look.
Her Majesty, 78, was greeted by dozens of medical staff as she arrived at the McKissock Ward, a 21-bed Neurosurgery Ward, who clapped, cheered and filmed her on their mobile phones.
‘Stepping out here in the fresh air, I’m sure all the patients here will get all the benefits,’ Camilla said.
Marvelling at the trees, shrubs, flowers and seating areas, she added: ‘Many congratulations to everybody who has been involved,’ she said.
‘I can see the difference it makes…I’m sure all the patients here are going to benefit enormously from this. ‘I think you’ve done a wonderful job…I am thrilled to be here to be able to open it.’
