Move over Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – there’s a new Royal in town.
Eleven-year-old Rosie Snell, who was born with Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy after complications at birth, was granted her wish to be Princess for the day by the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
While being taken through the streets of London by horse and carriage, a constantly smiling Princess Rosie was cheered on by impressed passersby, as if she were ‘famous’, said her proud mum, Jo.
Rosie requires 24-hour care and has epilepsy, is tube fed, and is also visually impaired.
Last Wednesday (6) Rosie, accompanied by members of her family, were whisked from their home in Marshalswick to London, where she enjoyed a range of treats at Harrods.
Jo, said: “Hermione Ruff from Starlight organised the day. She met us outside Harrods – I’ve never been there before!”
Starlight grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes for seriously and terminally ill children, to give the whole family happy memories to share.
Jo said: “Rosie was wearing a Cinderella dress, and had a Cinderella doll. They took us up to Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where they did her hair, and put a tiara on it. Bibbidi Bobbidi also painted her face. She fell asleep during her hand massage – she really enjoyed that. Rosie was really smiley during her time there.”
She went on: “They turned her into a princess, and gave us lots of gifts. They were very generous, and the staff were all brilliant.
“Then they took us all downstairs and there was a Cinderella glass carriage with two white horses.”
Jo said that being taken through busy London by carriage was “really emotional - it was a bit surreal.
“The crowds cheered loudly and were taking photos, like she was famous. Rosie was really smiling, and was very happy.”
She said there were several poignant moments, including when “two homeless people, with their blankets, saw the carriage and they jumped up and said ‘hello princess’.
“Then, a man asked if it was for charity, and he gave Starlight £100.
“They took us to the Rainforest Café. Starlight paid for us to have a meal there, and then they drove us back home. Starlight organised the whole day, we didn’t have to do one thing.
“Hermione from Starlight followed us with Rosie’s wheelchair, and was waiting with it for Rosie when we arrived at the café.
“It was such a lovely day. I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it; it was like a wedding day, when you don’t want it to end.”
Jo added: “She may as well have been the Queen. It was a really, really nice day.”
• To refer a child for a wish or to make a donation, please go online at www.starlight.org.uk. For every £1 you donate, 91p goes towards helping Starlight’s very ill children.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here