Double-amputee Tony Hudgell, who lost both legs to horrific abuse by his birth parents, has 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 even two months old – necessitating the amputation of both his lower legs.
The nine-year-old was ‘over the moon’ last month when he was invited to attend one of King Charles’s 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 night, he received a consoling word from Palace officials who, in response to the day’s misfortune, promised to conjure up another date, assuring Tony: ‘Leave it with us.’
On Wednesday afternoon, the Palace were true to their word and an ecstatic Tony joined Queen Camilla for a private tea party in 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 last Wednesday
Tony Hudgell was unable to make it to the Buckingham Palace garden party on May 8 after getting stuck in traffic on the M20. But Palace officials promised to conjure up another date
Shaking their hands, Queen Camilla said: ‘Really nice to get you here today. We thought we’d give you a special garden party.’
Tony presented Her Majesty with a bouquet – and she looked delighted to receive them.
And he will have been in for a treat, as tea at the palace includes crustless sandwiches, Kings-guard iced biscuits, miniature profiteroles, strawberry tarts, and squares of chocolate cake – topped with a crown.
The Queen awarded a beaming Tony with a British Empire medal for his fundraising efforts and bravery, who said he was ‘very happy’ following the royal afternoon out.
He said: ‘I was supposed to go to a garden party but we got stuck in traffic. My mum put out a tweet. The Queen’s team said “so sad that you didn’t make the garden party today.”
‘We found out that I was having a private one with another person called Lyla.’
Tony is the youngest ever recipient of a New Years Honour for his services to prevent child abuse.
Tony displays the invitation he received to attend the garden party at Buckingham Palace
Tony and Lyla O’Donovan watched the Changing Of The Guard before attending the private tea party
Tony presented a delighted Queen Camilla with a bouquet of flowers
Tony was joined by Lyla O’Donovan, 11, who, though living with a rare brain tumour, is another inspirational fundraiser – as well as their families
With none of the thousands who throng the King’s three annual garden parties, he was joined just by Lyla O’Donovan, 11, who, though living with a rare brain tumour, is another inspirational fundraiser.
Lyla herself wasn’t been able to attend the first garden party due to being in hospital.
In 2022, Tony, who has previously met the Prince and Princess of Wales, inspired what’s known as Tony’s Law, which sanctions increased prison sentences for those convicted of child cruelty and neglect.
He 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, completing a 10km walk and raising £1.3 million at the age of five.
Tony’s adoptive mother, Paula Hudgell, previously took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal that her son had received the exciting invitation to the King’s garden party.
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 shinning.’
Her words were accompanied by a picture of Tony holding the invitation and smiling as he showed it to the camera.
Tony and Lyla were in for a treat with the 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 he was stuck in traffic, Paula wrote that he was ‘stuck on [the] M20 for last 2 hours’ and so ‘won’t be making 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 such 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.
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.
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 £1.3million by the age of five
Tony had major surgery after his birth 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 Children’s Day Surgery Unit at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital
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.