Terminally-ill children from Oxfordshire have helped decorate Prince Charles and his wife's Christmas tree.

Each year, the Duchess of Cornwall invites youngsters who use Helen & Douglas House, where she has been patron since 2007, to hang baubles on the Clarence House tree.

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Due to the pandemic, the event was held virtually this year, with youngsters and their families joining in via video link.

Oxford Mail:

The hospice had sent Clarence House a homemade bauble with each of the children’s name on, with the children or their families deciding where they wanted their decoration placed.

Captain Charles Ross, dressed in his full guardsman’s uniform, then placed their decorations, in some cases with his sword to reach the higher branches.

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Among the youngsters were Ella Greenough, aged four, Neve Tammam, aged eight from Oxford, as well as nine-year-old Nathan Best, from Banbury, who sang 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas' for the Duchess.

Oxford Mail:

Ella's mum Kirsty said: "The thought of Ella’s bauble on the Christmas tree at Clarence House is just a moment we will remember for the rest of our lives."

She also thanked the East Oxford hospice for its work, saying: "Without them we don’t know what we would do. They make a very bad situation and turn it into fun happiness which makes you forget for a while of what you’re going though."

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Emily Tammam, Neve’s mum, said the entire experience was 'wonderful', adding: "Neve was only diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2020 and with all the restrictions in place, we have met very few other families, which has made our experience feel even more lonely than usual.

Oxford Mail:

"So seeing all the other families on the video call made us feel part of something and just a little bit less alone."

Clare Periton, chief executive of Helen & Douglas House said: "The children and families who took part had such a magical time. It is such a great privilege to have the Duchess of Cornwall as our patron.

"For our families, Christmas is a time when they can make precious memories which they will treasure forever and this will certainly be one that they will always remember."