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The Duchess invites seriously ill children to help decorate the Christmas tree at Clarence House
9th December 2009
The Duchess of Cornwall welcomed seriously ill children to Clarence House today to help her decorate the Christmas tree and enjoy a festive tea party.
Watch the video below:Her Royal Highness invited young people with life shortening conditions from Helen and Douglas House, of which she is Patron, and children helped by the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
The Duchess met sisters Neve, seven, and Drew Turner, six, and learnt about a special wish the pair are having fulfilled.
The sisters, who both have cystic fibrosis, plan to swim with dolphins after their request was granted by the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Phillippa Turner from Durham, a full-time carer for her two daughters, said: "The Duchess said she'd always wanted to swim with dolphins and was really envious of my daughters, she said - 'I'd love to do that'.
"It was fantastic coming here and a bit surreal - they are never going to do anything like this ever again and it's something they will remember."
Mrs Turner hopes to travel to Florida next year with husband Geoffrey, 36, to fulfil their daughters' wish thanks to Starlight which helps seriously and terminally ill children achieve their dreams.
Among the children from Starlight were others and young adults from Helen and Douglas House which provides respite and end of life care for those with life-shortening conditions.
When the group and The Duchess walked into a ground floor room at Clarence House they found an 8ft tall Christmas tree, which came from the Windsor Estate, partially covered in festive baubles.
Taking the lead The Duchess picked up cloth stars and red apples and encouraged the youngsters to place them onto the branches.
The group were joined by a guardsman in his traditional scarlet tunic and bearskin and The Duchess told the young children that he was her toy soldier who had come to help them decorate the tree.
Assistant Equerry to Their Royal Highnesses Captain Henry Finnegan from the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards put on his ceremonial uniform for the event and even used his sabre to place some of the ornaments on the tree.
Before leaving the youngsters were treated to a Christmas lunch with festive treats.