Help give Roald Dahl Nurses and their young patients a royally good Christmas

BRAVE little Sadie Simons doesn't normally enjoy visiting London, as it often involves a stay in hospital, sometimes for weeks at a time, to treat the chronic health condition she's battled for the past five years.

- Robert Kellaway

But that all changed two days ago when the nine-year-old accompanied her family to the capital for something far more magical and delightful - lunch with Her Majesty The Queen. Sadie and her mother Lucy, 37, were among the families supported by Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity who had been invited to help decorate the Royal Christmas Tree at Clarence House.

And the little girl, with a brilliant smile, positively trembled with excitement as she curtseyed before Camilla and handed her a bouquet of flowers.

The Queen thanked her before taking Sadie by the hand to lead her and other children at the event to decorate the tree festooned with lights and baubles.

Sadie, who lives in Puckeridge, Herts, said: "I was so excited. The Queen was very nice. I her flowers and she liked them gave She helped me choose the first decoration to put on the tree and she brought sausage and mash for me to eat and poured on the gravy.

"It was such good fun. Santa was there but he was very naughty. He kept stealing the sweets, we saw him do it!" Sadie is waiting to be readmitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for another in a series of operations as she battles an irreversible intestinal condition.

But alongside her and her mother for the lunch and other festivities on Thursday, was Roald Dahl Nurse Grace Mardle, 33, who helps care for her. Grace said: "It was so emotional watching Sadie with the Queen, we were so proud of her and it was such a thrill to share it with her. In spite of her condition Sadie has a real love of life and she relished every second of her time there." Mum Lucy added: "It was absolutely amazing. The Queen was so lovely with the children, she even served them their lunch which was wonderful. She just took them by the hand and had a good chat with them.