Camilla Parker Bowles Spreads Cheer Among Children With Special Christmas Party

The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles spread Christmas cheer among children and young people when she invited them to her home, Clarence House in London, on Tuesday. She hosted a special Christmas party for her guests at her home, which she shares with her husband Prince Charles. The 68-year-old got some extra help from her little guests in decorating the big Christmas tree.

All the decorations for the Christmas tree was kept ready before the children arrived at Clarence House in the morning. Most of were either terminally ill kids who came with their parents or orphaned kids. The second group of youngsters arrived in a fleet of black cabs, driven by those who run the charity.

The children are supported by two charities that Camilla is a patron of -- Helen & Douglas House and The London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children.

Camilla looked thrilled to interact with the children and the young people. She played the perfect host and personally served bangers and mash (traditional British Isle dish of mashed potatoes and sausages) to the kids and youngsters. She also helped them decorate her tree.

The duchess has been holding the tradition since the past 11 years at her house. The annual tradition usually consists of putting the finishing touches to the tree followed by lunch at the royal residence. It was the fourth time that youngsters from The London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children have been invited to decorate the tree and the seventh time for the Helen & Douglas House kids.

Camilla first became patron of Helen & Douglas House in 2007. Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice when it opened in 1982. Later, Douglas House opened to provide support for young adults aged 16 to 35 in 2004.

The two houses now care for more than 400 families from Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, and offer practical and emotional support for patients and family members.

Camilla is the patron of The London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children since 2009.