BEAMING up at Camilla, little Amana Beale enjoys a Christmas to remember with a visit to Clarence House.

The six-year-old was with seven other children from Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House who helped hospice patron the Duchess of Cornwall decorate her eight-foot Christmas tree on Tuesday.

Back home in Abingdon yesterday, a beaming Amana, who has spina bifida, said: “I got to meet a real princess.”

Her mum Tanya, 37, said: “Amana has been really excited about this for ages. She’s been telling everyone.

“She had to have major surgery on her brain in the summer and will have another big operation in January, so she’ll be having a rotten time. This has given her something to look back on and smile.”

The Dunmore Primary pupil visited London with her older sister Imogen, nine, who has cerebral palsy.

Miss Beale said: “Next year all her classmates will be feeling sorry for her and last term they all gave cards and presents for her in hospital.

“But just for this term, they all said ‘wow, you’re going to London and you’re going to meet a princess’.

“That’s invaluable for her.”

This is the fifth year the Duchess has invited hospice children to decorate the tree.

Shaking hands with Finley Middleton, three, from Bicester, Camilla asked him if he was excited about Christmas.

Finley suffers with an un-diagnosed condition which has left him with immune deficiencies. Mum Michaela, 43, said: “Christmas is quite an exciting time for him because he has just turned three.”

The children were also joined by young people from the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children.

Hospice chief executive Tom Hill said: “While Helen & Douglas House is best known for its medical care and support, we also help families to build precious memories.

“Meeting Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and a Guardsman in full uniform was truly magical for our children.

“In years to come their families will treasure the photos taken of each child being helped by a real-life ‘chocolate soldier’ to decorate the Clarence House tree.”

A Clarence House spokes-man said: “The Duchess always looks forward to inviting the wonderful children, staff and families from Helen & Douglas House to decorate the tree. It’s always such a special occasion.”