A LITTLE girl met a special member of the Royal family who invited her to help decorate her Christmas tree.

Alice Hipkiss came face to face with The Duchess of Cornwall, who invited her to her official London residence Clarence House, which she shares with her husband, the Prince of Wales.

It was a special treat for the five-year-old, who underwent a heart transplant at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital last year.

Alice, from Yarnton, was among 12 children, including some from East Oxford hospice Helen and Douglas House, helped by the Starlight Children’s Foundation which grants wishes to terminally and seriously ill children.

Alice helped decorate the 8ft Christmas tree from the Windsor estate with festive baubles, cloth stars and red apples.

The group then tucked into sausage and mash in the shape of a face, apple crumble and ginger biscuits.

Accompanied by her grandparents, Angela and Malcolm Spicer, she also met Guardsman Captain Henry Finnegan, from the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, who put on his ceremonial scarlet tunic and bearskin for the event, and used his sabre to place some of the ornaments on the tree.

The Duchess told the children he was her toy soldier who had come to help them.

Mrs Spicer, 72, said: “I think she will remember it, she is very shy but she has been talking about it.

“I think she will remember the guardsman, they all had the chance to try on his busby.

“The Duchess was extremely easy to talk to. Alice was wearing a spotty T-shirt and she said her own grand-daughter also had a top with spots on it and her own daughter was expecting twins.”

Alice’s mother Liz, 37, said: “Alice had a wonderful day. The Duchess was so lovely with her. Her favourite bit was when the Yeoman of the Guard put some of the decorations on the tree with his sword.

“The whole day made her feel so special and it is great that Starlight could give us this Christmas treat after everything Alice has been through this year.”

Mrs Hipkiss, who has three other children with husband David, added: “I think she realised it was a special day.

“She has been through more than the average five-year-old.

She is used to being in hospital, playing hospitals is now her favourite game.”

The Starlight charity will grant Alice’s wish – for a family beach holiday – next year.