Tony Hudgell’s mother Paula has revealed her son’s adorable reaction every time he sees his “best friend” Kate Middleton on TV.
The 10-year-old, who had his legs amputated after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his biological parents, has developed a sweet friendship with the Princess of Wales, 42, over the years.
Tony, who is from Kent, met Kate at the Princess’ Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey in 2021, and again at Westminster Hospital Day Center in December 2023, where they colored together.
Both Kate and William have consistently supported Tony’s extensive fundraising efforts and, according to his mother Paula, always stay “in the loop” on what he is doing.
Speaking in a new interview with HELLO! MagazinePaula revealed her son’s moving reaction every time he sees the princess on the screens.
Tony Hudgell’s mother Paula has revealed her son’s adorable reaction every time he sees his “best friend” Kate Middleton on TV. Tony is pictured with Kate last December.
She said: “As Tony gets older I hope he knows how special he is and the hearts he has touched, and that having the Royal Family backing him in everything he does is so lovely.” Now, every time he sees the princess on television he says, “There’s my Kate.”
He added that Kate “doesn’t put on any airs” when speaking to Tony and treats her son with “pure kindness.”
“There’s just something between Kate and Tony and when she talks to him, she’s like his best friend,” Paula continued.
“When we met her, Tony was small with his little legs and she immediately got down on the floor with him to be on his level. She sits and colors with him and never seems to be in a hurry.
Paula added that Kate even gave her a “hug” when they met last year as she was a little “emotional.”
She added that the royal couple always stay up to date with whatever Tony is doing, congratulating him on his fundraising efforts.
Paula, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer two years ago, revealed that William asked her about her chemotherapy treatment when he awarded her an OBE at Windsor Castle last year.
Tony was rushed to hospital with life-changing injuries in 2014, when he was 41 days old, following horrific abuse by his biological parents, Jody Simpson and Tony Smith. The couple was convicted of child cruelty in 2018 and are both currently serving a ten-year prison sentence.
Tony was adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell after suffering abuse at the hands of his biological parents. Tony and Paula are pictured in March.
Tony, who is from Kent, met Kate at the Princess’s Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey in 2021, and again at Westminster Hospital Day Center in December 2023, where they colored together (in the photo).
Tony is shown speaking to William and Kate at the Together at Christmas service in December 2021.
In 2017, Tony had both legs amputated due to injuries he suffered as a baby, and is currently learning to walk with prosthetic legs without crutches.
After his incredibly difficult start in life, Tony was adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell from West Malling, Kent, who have successfully campaigned for longer sentences for anyone who seriously harms a child, and are now calling for a abuser’s register following the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
At Kate’s first carol concert, held in December 2021, the young fundraiser met the Prince and Princess of Wales for the first time and reportedly spent “time” chatting with them.
His proud parents later tweeted: ‘Tony has no idea the impact or the enormity of it.
‘(The Prince and Princess of Wales) were really incredible with him. They chatted with both of them for years. A truly magical evening.’
A sweet picture from the event showed William and Kate crouching at Tony’s eye level to chat with the youngster as his proud mother Paula looked on.
The invitation to the concert came after Kate was impressed by Tony’s charitable efforts in 2020, when he raised more than £1.5million for Evelina.
In December last year, he and Kate coloring together at Westminster Hospital, and Tony sheepishly admitted afterwards that he found her “beautiful”.
Tony has previously been hailed as a hero by Prince William and his wife Kate for his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children.
Tony’s achievements include raising more than £2 million for charities and becoming the youngest person to receive a British Empire Medal from King Charles for services to the prevention of child abuse.
Paula has said that Kate is Tony’s “best friend” and says she “doesn’t put on any airs” when they talk together. Photographed in December of last year.
He set out to raise £500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days in 2020 after being inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £33 million by walking in his backyard.
In 2021, a foundation created in his name to improve the lives of children affected by physical, emotional or psychological abuse provided more than 700 Christmas gifts for young people in need, and also continued the tradition last Christmas.
The 10-year-old’s phenomenal fundraising achievements come despite an incredibly difficult start to life that saw him undergo 23 operations and eight blood transfusions.
The horrific abuse he was subjected to by his biological parents left him with serious injuries and the baby also developed sepsis because Smith and Simpson waited 10 days before taking him to the hospital.
Her luck changed after her life was saved by specialists at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, of which the Princess of Wales is an official patron.
Queen Camilla with Tony Hudgell, from West Malling in Kent, and Lyla O’Donovan from Catterick, during a private tea party in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on Wednesday
Tony underwent major surgery after his biological parents inflicted life-changing injuries on him as a baby.
Tony Hudgell had completed a 10km walk and raised £1.3 million by the age of five.
Tony also met Prince Harry along with a host of celebrities and was singled out as an inspiration by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Despite the attention, Paula said of Tony, “He takes it all in stride, so to speak.” He is just amazing.
‘He’s a very social person. He can capture a room full of people and will talk to all of them.’
In December, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis sent letters to Tony at his mother’s annual Christmas service.
Earlier this year, Tony attended Buckingham Palace for a “special” private tea party with Queen Camilla.
Tony Hudgell attends the Pride of Britain Awards 2024 at The Grosvenor House Hotel on 21 October 2024
He was “over the moon” in June when he was invited to attend one of King Charles’s garden parties, only to be bitterly disappointed when he got stuck in traffic on the M20 while making the journey from Maidstone in Kent.
Later that night, he received a word of comfort from Palace officials who, in response to the day’s misfortune, promised to conjure up another date, assuring Tony: “Leave it to us.”
In July, the Palace kept its word and an ecstatic Tony joined Queen Camilla for a private tea party at the Summer House.
A beaming Tony was awarded a British Empire Medal for his fundraising efforts and bravery by the Queen, who said she was “very happy” after the royal afternoon.
He said: ‘I was supposed to go to a garden party but we got stuck in traffic. My mom posted a tweet. The Queen’s team said: “How sad you couldn’t make it to the garden party today.”