CHRISTMAS TREES, REINDEER AND A VISIT FROM SANTA
GETS THE ROYAL FESTIVITIES STARTED WITH HER ANNUAL CHILDREN’S PARTY
It’s one of the most special events in the royal calendar and once more the Queen pulled out all the magical stops for the young guests at her annual Christmas party.
Her Majesty hosted seriously ill children and families supported by two of her patronages, Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, treating them to a day out at Clarence House.
After inviting them to help decorate the tree – assisting her equerry Major Ollie Plunket as he placed baubles on the branches using the tip of his sword – she served up plates of sausage and mash at a table laden with festive treats.
The children were also surprised by Father Christmas himself, who greeted the Queen as she descended the staircase in a green velvet dress by Me+Em.
“Father Christmas, I spy,” she said. “Here we go again. This is an especially lovely occasion.”
In the garden, the ten youngsters, eight of whom use wheelchairs, were welcomed to Clarence House by the Band and Bugles of The Rifles playing carols, while inside, Lance Corporal Edward Watts brought smiles with festive songs played on musical instruments made with a hosepipe attached to a watering can and post horn.
Once they were in the Morning Room, each family met the Queen, with Yasir Ibrahim, four, who is deaf and has sickle cell disease, greeting her with a high five.
His mum, Zainab Abubakar of Telford, said: “It’s a big honour for us to be here and we are so happy.”
MARVELLOUS MEMORIES
Charlotte O’Neill of Birmingham, whos
