Prince William Meets Boy Who Finally Made It to a Garden Party After Missing It Last Year Due to Traffic

Prince William met a very special guest at today’s Buckingham Palace garden party.

The Prince of Wales, 42, shared a sweet moment with 10-year-old Tony Hudgell at the May 20 event in London, bending down to shake the boy’s hand. Hudgell finally got to experience a garden party after missing a similar event last year because he got stuck in traffic.

Hudgell is a double amputee whose foundation raises money for children affected by physical, emotional or psychological abuse.

While traveling to this year’s party, Hudgell’s mother, Paula Hudgell, posted to X, “On our way to The King’s Garden Party! What a glorious day for it — we can’t wait to meet so many wonderful & inspiring people. Tony is so excited to be heading back to the Palace!”

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The update was a happier one than the message Paula posted before a 2024 garden party when she shared that she and Tony had been trapped in traffic for two hours and wouldn’t “be making the King’s Garden Party.”

However, her post caught the eye of the Royal Family’s official X account, which offered another invite to Tony.

“Sorry to hear this, Tony! We were looking forward to seeing you too,” they replied at the time. “Fancy trying again another day? Leave it with us… @paula_hudgell.”

Weeks later, Tony was treated to tea with Queen Camilla in June 2024, who also hosted Lyla O’Donovan, a girl diagnosed with a rare brain tumor who raised funds for ill children and missed a May 2024 garden party due to health issues.

During their visit, the children and their families watched the Changing of the Guard and joined Queen Camilla in the garden’s Summer House at Buckingham Palace. Later, they were taken on a private tour of the Royal Mews.

Queen Camilla also honored Tony with a British Empire Medal (BEM) after his nomination in the 2024 New Year Honours.

Paula said after the visit that Tony “chatted to the Queen as if they were old friends, and she was lovely with him, and [it was] an exceptionally very proud moment when the Queen gave Tony his BEM.”

She added, “We would like to thank everyone who made this one of the most memorable days we will ever have.”

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This year’s garden party marks an exciting day for Princess Kate, 43. She cohosted the event with Prince William in her first garden party appearance since 2023, as she did not attend last year’s parties amid her cancer treatment.

Other guests at this year’s event included William’s cousins Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall, plus King Charles’ brother and sister-in-law Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The royal family members stood on the steps of the palace after arriving while the national anthem, “God Save The King,” played, then moved to the lawn to greet their guests, who were invited in recognition of their public service. The garden party featured a menu of tea, mini cakes and sandwiches.