Little Dolcie helps Queen to decorate her Christmas tree

Dressed in her best Christmas outfit that matched her nana’s, Dolcie Atwill gave a helping hand to Queen Camilla in decorating her tree.

- by Katy Wheeler

The four-year-old from Houghton joined Her Majesty at Clarence House for a special festive event.

Dolcie lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a genetic condition that affects the motor neurons causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy).

With her nana and main carer, Debbie Lewis-Atwill, by her side, Dolcie travelled to London to meet the Queen, who is the Royal Patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity.

Dolcie and Debbie were joined by Dolcie’s Roald Dahl Nurse, Stephanie Tanner, who specialises in neuromuscular disease and is based at John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, part of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Debbie said the nurse plays a special role in their lives.