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Chloe made to feel like royalty as she meets Queen Camilla

Chloe Carter, a patient with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, was made to feel like royalty after getting the opportunity to meet Queen Camilla and dress the Christmas tree at Clarence House. 

Every year, Her Majesty The Queen – Royal Patron of Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity – invites some Roald Dahl Nurses and the children they care for to join her for lunch, and to decorate the tree. 

Chloe, from Kirkham, was diagnosed in August with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a condition which predominantly affects boys, and Paula Sugden, a Roald Dahl Paediatric Neuromuscular Nurse Specialist with the Trust, nominated her for the chance to enjoy the trip of a lifetime. 

Chloe’s name was selected, and she joined mother Rachel and Paula at the London residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which is located next to St James's Palace, within walking distance of Buckingham Palace. 

As well as Queen Camilla, Father Christmas and The Band and Bugles of The Rifles were there to welcome everyone, and mum Rachel admits it was a day she and Chloe will never forget: “The whole thing was incredible from start to finish, it was such an amazing experience, just what Chloe needed. We’ve had a really tough time, but it was wonderful. 

“Chloe was diagnosed in August with Duchenne muscular dystrophy - she’s very unique in that she’s a girl suffering from a predominantly male condition, but she’s very resilient, she doesn’t let things get to her.” 

Chloe and Rachel took, as Chloe said, 'the whizzy fast train' to London, and enjoyed a night in the St Ermin’s Hotel, in Westminster. 

Rachel said: “We were treated like royalty – the staff brought her presents, it was like Home Alone when Kevin goes to the plaza suite! There were cakes, cards, we were in one of the biggest suites, and it was fantastic. Then we went to the interactive art experience Frameless in Marble Arch, and Chloe loved that. We stayed the night at the hotel and then went to Clarence House the next day. 

“We were quite nervous and I’m glad I had Paula with me. It was amazing, the Queen walked through the door and I said to Chloe, ‘look, you’re in matching dresses.’ 

“They had the same colour frock on, which the Queen also commented on. She was very warm, like everybody’s grandma, she loved the children, you could tell she wanted them all to have the most wonderful experience.” 

Queen Camilla went out of her way to help create remarkable memories: “Chloe helped decorate the tree - she put some decorations on and the Queen took her hand and said ‘come on, we’ll do another one’. Then we sat and had lunch in the dining room. The Queen made sure Chloe sat next to a friend she had made, and they had sausage and mash, in the shape of a smiley face, and the Queen even poured on her gravy! She was amazing, she gave everyone lots of time and made sure everyone was happy. 

“It’s a special memory we will always remember.” 

Rachel thanked Paula and the Trust’s Paediatric Neuromuscular Service, which earlier this year received a prestigious Centre of Excellence award from Muscular Dystrophy UK: “For us, Paula is a voice of reason, she knows where to go for advice, she’s very nurturing – she's a mum herself and can relate to me, and how I feel. 

“It’s not just for Chloe, it’s for all of us, she’s so helpful. Nothing is too much trouble, everything is doable if we work as a team, she’s incredible. I can’t say thank you enough, she came to her very first appointment when I was feeling very overwhelmed and she’s just very calming. 

“I’d never heard of Duchenne, Dr Christian De Goede and his team are very good, the physios, everybody is incredible. We’re very grateful. When I speak to other parents, they sometimes have a trickier time getting the help they need, but we’ve never had to push for help, it’s always been readily available at Preston. We’re very lucky we have this team.” 

Paula added: "When the nominations opened, Chloe immediately came to mind. This year has been incredibly challenging for her family, and I felt that this event would be such a positive experience for them.  Chloe is a lovely, happy little girl who is always smiling and brings joy to everyone that she meets. 

"It was an honour to be invited to attend the event with Rachel and Chloe, and it was heartwarming to see Chloe so happy enjoying the Frameless experience, marvelling at the magician, and, of course, meeting Queen Camilla. The Queen was so down-to-earth, warm, and welcoming, which made the experience even more special.

"I am incredibly grateful to the Roald Dahl Marvellous Children's Charity for providing such a wonderful opportunity. These are memories I will treasure forever."

  • Roald Dahl Nurses like Paula are established in post in NHS Trusts by Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity. These nurses are able to provide a bespoke, holistic kind of care for children with some of the most serious, lifelong complex conditions – getting to know their family and helping them navigate their complex healthcare journey at home and in the hospital, often throughout the patient’s childhood.  To find out more about Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity visit www.roalddahlcharity.org 

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