Queen Camilla welcomed six seriously ill youngsters to Clarence House this afternoon for a tea party and treasure hunt organised by the charity Dreams and Wishes.
The children, accompanied by their families, arrived at the royal residence in true regal fashion, travelling by horse-drawn carriage from The Royal Mews along The Mall.
Heavy rainfall meant the festivities were moved indoors, where a string quartet performed Disney melodies in the Morning Room.
"Hello, I hear you arrived here by carriage!" the Queen remarked to the nervous but excited children upon greeting them.
Dreams and Wishes, a volunteer-led organisation established in 2011, has fulfilled more than 2,000 wishes for children facing life-threatening conditions, creating treasured memories through special events and outings.
Rupert Williams, a seven-year-old from Barry in South Wales, seized the opportunity to make the afternoon even more memorable by bringing along his Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct medal.
The young boy, who lives with gastrointestinal failure and haemophilia A, had hoped the Queen might pin the award to his waistcoat.
When Camilla noticed the medal beside him at the table, Rupert initially became shy, prompting his mother, Hannah Williams, to explain his wish.
Queen Camilla welcomed six seriously ill youngsters to Clarence House this afternoon
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The Queen pinned Rupert's Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct medal to his wastcoat
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"Well, we'd better put it on then! It's so impressive," the Queen responded, before proudly fastening it to his chest.
His mother said: "As a family we have said this year is just about saying 'yes to life'. We just need to enjoy these incredible opportunities."
Rupert later raised a glass of water to toast his royal host.
The Queen threw herself into hosting duties, distributing plates and encouraging the children to help themselves to an impressive spread of sandwiches, colourful cupcakes, brownies, jelly and biscuits bearing each child's name in icing.
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The Queen threw herself into hosting duties, distributing plates and encouraging the children to help themselves to sandwiches
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"It's all for you. See how much you can cram in," she told them.
Six-year-old Maria Lourenco Belo from Port Talbot, gleaming in a lilac princess dress, caught the Queen's attention.
"Very pretty," Camilla remarked of her outfit.
The afternoon's highlight saw the Queen's equerry, aptly named Major Treasure, dispatch the children on a prince- and princess-themed quest.
They were told a wicked wizard had stolen royal treasure before being thwarted by Grenadier Guards.
Camilla held Maria's hand as they searched for clues throughout the ground floor, eventually discovering a giant gold coin hidden in the guards' bearskin hats.
Each child departed with a goodie bag containing a teddy bear dressed as a guard, pencils, a key ring and a large chocolate coin from the Royal Collection Shop.
The Queen embraced and kissed every youngster as the afternoon drew to a close.
Dreams and Wishes chairman Tony Curtis presented Camilla with gifts, including a clock and a bottle of Welsh gin.
Dreams and Wishes chairman Tony Curtis presented Queen Camilla with gifts, including a clock and a bottle of Welsh gin
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"Thank you, this is my husband's favourite," she said upon receiving the gin.
Mr Curtis said: "The Queen wrote to me when I started the charity in 2011. She writes to me every year after I wish her a Happy Christmas."
He added: "She is fantastic, especially how she spends so much time chatting to the children and the parents."
The charity gave her a clock "as she has given so much of her time to us".
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