Tony and Lyla meet Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace after missing royal party

Thousands of people attended the palace event a few weeks ago to mark the first anniversary of the King and Queen's coronation - but royal officials invited back two children who were unable to be there.

Monday 1 July 2024 18:04, UK

Queen Camilla with Lyla O'Donovan and Tony Hudgell. Pic: Buckingham Palace/PA
Image: Queen Camilla with Lyla O'Donovan and Tony Hudgell. Pic: Buckingham Palace/PA
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A nine-year-old double amputee who missed a garden party at Buckingham Palace has met Queen Camilla at a specially-arranged private gathering.

Tony Hudgell, from West Malling in Kent, missed the event in May after a lorry fire left him and his adoptive family stranded on the M20.

The Royal Garden Party was also missed by Lyla O'Donovan, from Catterick, in North Yorkshire, because she was in hospital - but the pair were invited back to enjoy their own occasion.

The Queen told them: "Really special to get you here today - we thought we'd give you a special garden party."

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Last December, Tony became the youngest person to ever feature in the New Year Honours Lists when he was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the prevention of child abuse.

He was presented with the BEM by the Queen and said the day at the palace had made him "very happy".

'Tony's Law'

Tony was just 41 days old when both of his legs were amputated.

An attack by both his birth parents - who were given jail terms - caused multiple fractures, organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.

He has raised more than £1.8m for charity and inspired "Tony's Law", which updated guidelines to allow tougher sentencing for people convicted of child cruelty.

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Pic: Buckingham Palace/PA
Image: Pic: Buckingham Palace/PA

Explaining more about the day in London, Lyla said: "We couldn't come to the garden party because I was in hospital.

"We sat around the table and we just chatted for a bit.

"We had some little cookies, some sandwiches and tea."

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Around 8,000 people attended the party in May, which marked the first anniversary of the King and Queen's coronation.

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