The Duchess of Cornwall opens doors of Clarence House for seriously ill children in Christmas spirit

The Duchess of Cornwall threw open the doors of Clarence House to a group of seriously ill children yesterday - but almost lost a box hedge to a reindeer in the process.

The Duchess invited children from two charities that she supports into her home to help decorate the royal Christmas tree, an annual event that is one of the highlights of the royal calendar.

In lively scenes rarely witnessed in the Clarence House drawing room, there was moon dancing, high kicks, a very long and excited handshake.

The children took it in turns to add decorations to the tree and try on a bearskin belonging to Charles and  Camilla’s equerry, Captain Charlie Ross of the Welsh Guards, who left them open-mouthed as he carefully placed an ornament on the tree with his sword to cheers of delight.

Outside, the Duchess got the giggles when one of two reindeer -Dancer and Blitzen - decided to make a break for freedom.

“That one’s going walkabout,” she laughed. “There goes the box hedge.”

Looking up at where her husband, the Prince of Wales, was working, she added mischievously: “I hope the window isn’t open.”

The children were invited from Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, both of which the Duchess is patron.

Helen House was the world's first children's hospice when it opened in 1982.

Helen & Douglas House cares for local terminally ill children and their families from Oxfordshire

and the surrounding counties, helping them make the most of their time together.

The Duchess, who looked festive in a red Bruce Oldfield dress, has been its patron since 2007 and this was the tenth time that families and hospice staff had been invited to decorate the Clarence House Christmas tree.

Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity was founded by the writer’s widow, Felicity, in 1991, shortly after his death.

It supports a network of more than 70 specialist nurses who provide help and support to some 21,000 children and their families, focusing on chronic and underfunded conditions such as epilepsy, sickle cell anaemia, acquired brain injury and syndromes without a name.

The Duchess had a chuckle when she was introduced to Charles and Camilla Park - commenting on their names - who were with their daughter Meriel, 11, who has another very rare condition, nemaline myopathy.

And she was entertained by Kadian Phillips, seven, who has sickle cell anaemia, but has never let his condition hold back his love for dancing.

“He loves everything to do with Michael Jackson,” explained his mother, Louise, from Bicester, Oxfordshire, as grinning Kadian showed off his moonwalk and high kick in the Duchess’s drawing room.

On the table in the dining room was a spread of chocolate Santas, candy canes, chocolate coins, gingerbread and fruit, which the Duchess personally served up each of her young guests with a plate of steaming sausages and mash made up in a smiley face.

After being presented a bouquet of yellow primroses - her favourite flower - she said: “I say this every year but to me this is the start of Christmas, I never really think about it until I’m in front of my Christmas tree with you all.”

She added: “I know sometimes it’s not easy but to see them all today, here and looking so happy, it’s a real treat for me and I look forward to it every single year.”

Among the guests was Dahl’s widow, Felicity, who was celebrating her 81st birthday.

She was full of praise for the Duchess, saying: “She has always been amazing, just wonderful.

“She is so empathetic with the families and appreciates the important work we do.

“Some of these children won’t be here next year and it’s actually for the parents to have those memories.”