Queen Camilla Presents Medal to Seriously Ill Boy at Royal Tea Party
A seriously ill seven-year-old boy, Rupert Williams, took a brave step and asked Queen Camilla to present him with a medal during a Royal tea party, an invitation she gladly accepted.
Rupert, who suffers from gastrointestinal failure and haemophilia A, was one of six children attending the event, which featured a treasure hunt hosted by the Queen at Clarence House.
Rupert, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, had previously been awarded a medal for his dedication to the Scouts despite his severe illness. He brought the medal with him, hopeful that the Queen might pin it on him during the event.
His mother, Hannah Williams, shared that Rupert had asked her beforehand if the Queen "had a dragon in her castle."
Gastrointestinal failure means that Rupert's digestive system does not function properly, while haemophilia A is a condition affecting blood clotting.
Rupert beamed with pride as the Queen pinned his medal to his waistcoat while the children sat down for tea. He even raised a toast to her with a glass of water.
The event included the tea party and a ride in a horse-drawn carriage down The Mall. It was organised by Dreams And Wishes, a Welsh charity dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families create lasting memories.
Hannah described Rupert as "overwhelmed" and excited about the occasion.
"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.
Hannah also reflected on the challenges of parenting a child with serious illness, stating that "your main priority is just trying to get them through it and giving them some sort of childhood."
Rupert has spent much of his life in hospital and was awarded the Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct medal.
According to the Scouts UK website, Rupert makes a point of trying to keep laughing because it helps him feel better. He also enjoys visits from therapy dogs, especially when he can help care for them.
During the Clarence House event, the children were told they were embarking on a prince and princess-themed quest to find treasure stolen by a wicked wizard, who was stopped by two guards at night.
Maria Lourenco Belo, aged six, from Port Talbot, also held hands with the Queen as she was led to the next clues in the treasure hunt.
The Queen Consort fully engaged in her hosting duties as the children sat down for tea, which included carefully arranged small square sandwiches, biscuits personalised with the children's names, jelly, and colourful cupcakes and brownies.
She distributed plates, ensured everyone was eating, and conversed with the accompanying adults.
The event concluded with each child receiving a goodie bag containing 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 the Queen giving each child a hug and a kiss.
Dreams And Wishes chairman Tony Curtis commented on the Queen's involvement, saying:
"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."
The charity presented the Queen with a clock as a gift, recognising the significant time she has devoted to their cause.
The Queen expressed her gratitude to Curtis and remarked, "this is my husband's favourite," after receiving a bottle of gin from Wales as another gift.
