CAMILLA’S CHRISTMAS CAVALRY
Disabled children decorate royal tree over Zoom... with help from a Guardsman
THE Duchess of Cornwall has played Mother Christmas for a group of children with serious medical conditions – with the help of a Guardsman armed with baubles.
Every December Camilla holds a party at Clarence House for youngsters from Helen & Douglas House hospice in Oxfordshire.
But with Covid leaving the youngsters housebound, she arranged for ten to join her by video link to decorate her Christmas tree virtually. Each had a named bauble which was hung for them by assistant equerry Captain Charlie Ross of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
Camilla told the youngsters: ‘Here’s Charlie in his bearskin and he is going to put your very own special baubles with your name on, on to the tree.’
The duchess, 73, also arranged for each to receive a Buckingham Palace gift shop goody bag, including a toy corgi, guardsman decoration, crown-topped pencil, stickers and books. The bags were whisked away from Clarence House by a royal carriage before ‘magically’ arriving at each of their homes.
Helen & Douglas House cares for terminally ill children and their families from Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. The duchess has been patron since 2007.
Among the children taking part was Jessica Newell, seven, (pictured) who was born with a severe neurological condition.
Her mother Vicky said: ‘We have had such amazing support from Helen & Douglas House, so to have their work recognised by such an important patron as the duchess is hugely rewarding. It was so lovely for her to put us at the centre of her Christmas.’