The family of fundraising titan Tony Hudgell have delivered Kate,Princess of Wales, an emotional message after news she had had surgery emerged.
Hudgell is, at nine years old, the youngest person to receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) and thinks of Princess Kate as his “number one supporter” according to mum Paula.
The pair met most recently, for the second time, at Evelina London’s Children’s Hospital in December.
Paula Hudgell, Tony’s mother, said: “She is very special to us. She has been absolutely wonderful and has been a number one supporter through Tony’s fundraising and everything with the hospital.”
The comments came as Princess Kate spent a third day in hospital after a planned abdominal surgery, with the Princess due to be absent from royal duties until Easter.
Paula added: “Get well soon, but take your time. We all try to think we are superwoman, especially when we have got children.
“She needs to take her time and not rush back to things. Take each day as it comes.”
The Princess of Wales and Tony are firm friends, first meeting in 2021 at the Princess’s Christmas Carol Concert held in Westminster Abbey.
Of the £1.8m that Tony has raised since turning five, £500,000 went towards a children’s surgery unit opened by Princess Kate last month.
When Tony received his BEM in recognition of his heroic charity work, the Medal was accompanied by a touching “personal little note”, Paula said.
She added: “She has just been so kind and thoughtful. They do have a great relationship. She is just so warm and down to earth.
“She is a mum and she just gets it. Tony absolutely adores her.”
A vicious assault by his birth parents at only 41 days left Tony with failing organs, toxic shock and sepsis, all left untreated for 10 days.
He lost both of his legs as a result, and birth parents Jody Simpson and Antony Smith were locked up for 10 years.
Thankfully, Tony found a loving home with Paula and Mark Hudgell, who fostered Tony at six weeks, adopting him at 17 months.
Now, Paula also campaigns against child abuse, and was awarded an OBE in 2022 for her work.
Tony’s first fundraiser began during lockdown, inspired by Captain Tom Moore’s 100-lap challenge in April 2020. Initially aiming to raise only £509 by walking 10km on his prosthetic legs, the youngster smashed his target and raised over £1.3m.
