Double amputee Tony Hudgell, who lost both his legs due to horrific abuse by his biological parents, attended Buckingham Palace for a “special” private tea party with Queen Camilla and was awarded a British Empire Medal.
Tony faced unspeakable cruelty at the hands of his mother and father before he was two months old, requiring the amputation of both his legs.
The nine-year-old was “over the moon” last month when he was invited to attend one of King Charles’ garden parties, only to be left bitterly disappointed when he got stuck in traffic on the M20 while making the journey from Maidstone in Kent.
Later that evening, 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.”
On Wednesday afternoon, the Palace was as good as its word and an ecstatic Tony joined Queen Camilla for a private tea party at the Summer House.
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 Hudgell missed out on a Buckingham Palace garden party on May 8 after getting stuck in traffic on the M20. But palace officials have promised to arrange another date.
Queen Camilla shook their hands and said, “It’s a pleasure to have you here today. We thought we would give you a special garden party.”
Tony presented Her Majesty with a bouquet and she seemed delighted to receive it.
And you will be in for a treat, as the palace tea includes crustless sandwiches, Royal Guard iced biscuits, miniature profiteroles, strawberry tarts and squares of chocolate cake, topped with a crown.
A beaming Tony was presented with a British Empire Medal for his fundraising efforts and bravery by the Queen, who said he was “very happy” after the royal afternoon.
He said: ‘I was due to go to a garden party but we got stuck in traffic. My mum posted a tweet. The Queen’s team said: ‘So sad you couldn’t make it to the garden party today.’
‘We learned that he was having a private date with someone else named Lyla.’
Tony is the youngest recipient of a New Year’s recognition for his services to preventing child abuse.
Tony shows the invitation he received to attend the Buckingham Palace garden party.
Tony and Lyla O’Donovan watched the changing of the guard before attending the private tea party.
Tony presented the delighted Queen Camilla with a bouquet of flowers.
Tony was joined by 11-year-old Lyla O’Donovan, who, although living with a rare brain tumour, is another inspiring fundraiser, as are their families.
With none of the thousands attending the three annual parties in the King’s Gardens, she was joined only by 11-year-old Lyla O’Donovan, who, although living with a rare brain tumour, is another inspiring fundraiser.
Lyla herself was unable to attend the first garden party because she was in the hospital.
In 2022, Tony, who has already met the Prince and Princess of Wales, inspired what is known as Tony’s Law, which sanctions harsher prison sentences for those convicted of child cruelty and neglect.
He has worn lower leg prosthetics since he was a toddler, after being abused as a baby.
Despite the horrific abuse he suffered, Tony became a fundraiser and received the Pride of Britain award and the UK Points of Light award, completing a 10km walk and raised £1.3m at the age of five.
Tony’s adoptive mother, Paula Hudgell, was previously a… X (formerly Twitter) to reveal that her son had received the exciting invitation to the King’s garden party.
She wrote: ‘Tony is beyond delighted and thrilled to have been invited by the King to the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace this Wednesday. Let’s hope the sun shines.’
Her words were accompanied by a photo of Tony holding the invitation and smiling as he showed it to the camera.
Tony and Lyla enjoyed a special afternoon tea, which included crustless sandwiches and cake.
Tony was “very happy” after Camilla presented him with a British Empire Medal for his bravery and fundraising efforts.
But after getting stuck in traffic, Paula wrote that he was “stuck on the M20 for the last 2 hours” and that is why he “will not be able to attend the King’s garden party”.
Tony’s biological parents Anthony Smith, 47, and Jody Simpson, 24, were each jailed for ten years in 2018 for the torture they inflicted on their 41-day-old son in 2014, leaving him with injuries including broken fingers and toes and torn ligaments.
Despite suffering unspeakable abuse in the early days of his life, little Tony has grown up to be a kind and determined boy who has raised around £2 million for charity by walking great distances on his crutches.
Tony had already been hailed as a hero by Prince William and his wife Kate for his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children.
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 £33m by walking in his backyard.
In 2021, a foundation created in her name to improve the lives of children who have been affected by physical, emotional or psychological abuse provided more than 700 Christmas gifts for young people in need, and continued the tradition last Christmas as well.
The nine-year-old’s phenomenal fundraising achievements came 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 severely injured, 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 Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, of which the Princess of Wales is an official patron.
The King and Queen at the Buckingham Palace garden party on May 8, which Tony missed
Tony Hudgell had completed a 10km walk and raised £1.3m by the age of five.
Tony underwent major surgery after his biological parents inflicted life-changing injuries on him as a baby.
Tony also met the Princess of Wales in December last year during her visit to officially open the Evelina London Paediatric Surgical Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Then in 2016 he finally found a loving home with Paula and Mark, who have campaigned tirelessly on Tony’s behalf since welcoming him into the family, including a proposal for Tony’s Law, which introduced tougher sentences for child cruelty.
They have also encouraged his fundraising efforts to help other children, which has seen him rub shoulders with some very famous figures.
After completing his grand walk, Tony met the Prince and Princess of Wales, who “spent hours” chatting to the youngster when the pair attended the Together At Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey last year.
He also met Prince Harry and other celebrities and was singled out as an inspiration by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this year.
Despite the attention he receives, Paula said of Tony: “He takes it all in stride, so to speak. He’s just amazing.”
“He’s a very sociable person. He can captivate a room full of people and talk to them all.”
In December, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis sent letters to Tony at his mother’s annual Christmas service.
To donate to the family’s fundraiser, click here.
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