Ellis, 11, gifted books and chocolate by royals

An 11-year-old cancer patient said it was “very exciting” meeting the King and Queen after the royals gave him three books and a labelled Buckingham Palace gold chocolate coin.

Ellis Edwards, 11, who is receiving radiotherapy at the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre, was given Swallows And Amazons by Arthur Ransome, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono and My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.

He and his mother, Carly Edwards, from Southampton, greeted the King and Queen and presented them with flowers.

The youngster said: “I was telling her (the Queen) about my treatment and my trip to Leicester Square, going to Hamleys and the cinemas.

“It was very exciting meeting them.”

His mother said: “It’s a really nice distraction.

“I’m really proud of him (Ellis), he’s really brave and a superstar so it’s great he can do something nice. “He deserves it.”

Royal fan John Loughrey, 69, from London, received a wave from the King and gave the Queen a bunch of tulips and roses, telling her “you have been a foundation for the King”.

Mr Loughrey said Charles had given him the “inspiration” to get screened for cancer.

He said: “The King and Queen have done impeccable work ... I’ve got an appointment myself at St George’s Hospital to get a mole checked.

“The King has given me inspiration to do that.”

Mr Loughrey, whose wife, Marian Crean, died from skin cancer at the age of 49 in 2003, said Charles’s announcement of his diagnosis had made him “feel like he is not alone”.

He added: “My late partner had cancer, I know exactly how the King is feeling.

“He’s sharing with me and everyone else affected by cancer that you’re not alone.”