King Charles and Queen Camilla tell double

Release time：2024-06-03 17:17:36 Source：Stellar Stream news portal

King Charles and Queen Camilla have told double-amputee Tony Hudgell they will make sure he can see them after he missed the Buckingham Palace garden party because of traffic. 

The nine-year-old boy, who lost both legs to horrific abuse by his birth parents, has been forced to miss the party because he got stuck in traffic on his way to London.

Paula Hudgell, Tony's adoptive mother, said on X that they were 'stuck on [the] M20 for last 2 hours' and so 'won't be making the King's Garden Party'.

Luckily the King and Queen made aware of Tony having to miss the party as they replied on X: 'Sorry to hear this, Tony! We were looking forward to seeing you too. Fancy trying again another day? Leave it with us...' 

The boy from Maidstone, Kent, has had prosthetics on his lower legs since he was a toddler, after being abused as a baby.

Despite the horrific abuse he suffered, Tony has gone on to become a fundraiser, and the recipient of the Pride of Britain Award and UK Points of Light award. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla (pictured at the party today) have told double-amputee Tony Hudgell they will make sure he can see them after he missed the Buckingham Palace garden party because of traffic

Luckily the Royal Family was made aware of Tony having to miss the party and replied on X

Tony's account on X said that he was 'stuck on [the] M20 for last 2 hours' and so 'won't be making the King's Garden Party'

Tony Hudgell is pictured after having major surgery after his birth parents inflicted life changing injuries on him as a baby

A ROYAL INVITATION: Tony (pictured) displays the invitation he received to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace

Tony's adoptive mother Paula took to X to reveal the news, saying that her son is 'excited' to be attending the event

Tony's adoptive mother, Paula Hudgell, previously took to X to reveal that her son had received the exciting invitation.

She wrote: 'Tony is over the moon and excited to have been invited by The King to the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace this Wednesday - let's hope the sun is shining.'

What is Tony's Law?

Tony's Law is an amendment to Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that was voted by ministers on November 30 2021.

It is named after Tony Hudgell, who was abused by his parents as an infant and suffered life-changing injuries.

His parents, Tony Smith and Jody Simpson, were both jailed for ten years, which was the maximum sentence at the time.

The amendment will increase the maximum penalty for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child from ten to 14 years, while causing the death of a child will rise from 14 years to life.

The tougher planned sentences could mean that anyone who causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their care will face up to life imprisonment, rather than the current 14-year maximum.

Her words were accompanied by a picture of Tony holding the invitation and smiling as he showed it to the camera.

The garden party would not have been his first brush with royalty: the nine-year-old has met the Princess of Wales on a number of occasions, as well as the Prince of Wales. 

The royal invitation follows Tony raising £1.8 million for the Evelina London Children's Hospital (where he received treatment following the life-changing injuries inflicted by his birth parents).

Inspired by Captain Tom Moore's fundraising walk in 2020, at the age of just five, Tony walked 10km on his prosthetic legs throughout June 2020 to raise the cash.

In addition to raising the impressive sum, the youngster also inspired an English law change, known as 'Tony's Law', enacted in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Tony's Law calls for increased prison sentences for those convicted of child cruelty and neglect.

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 earliest 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.

Last December, Tony and his mother Paula met the Princess of Wales for the second time at the Day Centre at the Westminster Hospital

Despite previously meeting Kate at the Princess's Christmas Carol Concert in Westminster Abbey in 2021, and again at the Day Centre in Westminster, Tony appeared bashful as he agreed with his mother that the Princess of Wales is 'beautiful'

Tony has previously been hailed a hero by Prince William and wife Kate over 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 £33million walking in his backyard.

In 2021, a foundation set up in his name to enhance the lives of children who have been affected by physical, emotional, or psychological abuse provided more than 700 Christmas presents for youngsters in need, and it continued the tradition last Christmas too.

The nine-year-old's phenomenal fundraising achievements come despite an incredibly tough start to life which led to him undergoing 23 operations and eight blood transfusions.

The horrific abuse he was subject to by his birth parents caused serious injuries - and the infant also developed sepsis because Smith and Simpson waited 10 days before taking him to hospital.

His fortunes turned around after his life was saved by specialists at the Evelina London Children's Hospital, of which the Princess of Wales is an official patron.

Then, in 2016, he finally found a loving home with Paula and Mark, who have campaigned tirelessly in Tony's interests since welcoming him into the family - including a bid for Tony's Law, which introduced tougher sentences for child cruelty.

They have also encouraged his fundraising efforts to help other children - which have seen him rub shoulders with very famous figures.

After completing his big walk, Tony met the Prince and Princess of Wales who 'spent ages' chatting with the youngster when the couple attended Together At Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey last year. 

He has also met Prince Harry along with a string of celebrities and earlier this year he was singled out for his inspiration by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Despite the attention attention Paula said of Tony: 'He takes all of it in his stride, so to speak. He is just amazing.

'He's very much a people person. He can encapture a room of people and will talk to them all.'

In December, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis posted letters to Tony at their mother's annual Christmas service.

To donate to the family's fundraiser, click here.

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