Royal parents Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall brought smiles and laughter to the faces of a host of youngsters when they made an official visit to a children's hospice this week. The couple, who have four children between them, were lending their support to the opening of Shooting Star House, which offers palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions.
During their 90-minute tour the pair also met with parents and staff of the ten-bedroom home in south-west London.
The Prince of Wales, who is patron of nine hospices, said the centre was a "remarkable achievement", and praised the "enthusiasm and dedication" of the hospice staff and its supporters. He and Camilla, who was elegant in a fuchsia pink suit with rosy velvet collar, chatted to the young residents, including ten-year-old Nicko Anderson who showed the Prince his musical skills in one of the home's specially equipped rooms. "He told me to keep on drumming," said the brave youngster who suffers from a debilitating skin condition.
Shooting Star House, which relies on charitable donations, recently received a welcome boost from flamboyant designer and hospice patron Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and wife Jackie. The celebrity duo raised an impressive £500,000 for the hospice during a special Valentine's Day edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
