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A blind schoolgirl with a brain tumour gave a rendition of a classic Christmas song to Queen Camilla during an invitation to Windsor Castle for tea.

Olivia Taylor, 7, was a bundle of excitement saying, “hello Your Majesty” as the Queen walked into the castle’s White Drawing Room for a private tea with her family.

The Queen poured Olivia her very first cup of tea which she “loved” to which the royal replied: “Oh you love tea, there you are you’ll be able to have tea from now on.”

Olivia, who has been blind since her diagnosis at 17 months was invited to the royal residence after the Queen heard she had performed with the Bexley Music Primary Choir at Buckingham Palace as part of the pre-recorded King’s Christmas message.

The girl proceeded to sing Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer to a round of applause.

Olivia was accompanied by her four-year-old sister Imogen and their parents Lisa and Matt as they dined on scones, Santa cakes and personalised biscuits.

Queen Camilla takes tea with seven-year-old Olivia Taylor from Sidcup at Windsor Castle
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Olivia sang Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla takes tea with seven-year-old Olivia Taylor from Sidcup along with her sister Imogen, four, (second left), father Matt (left), and mother Lisa (right) at Windsor Castle
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Olivia Taylor came with her sister Imogen (second left), father Matt (left), and mother Lisa (right) at Windsor Castle

She also brought her teddy Corrie with her – a trusty companion during her hospital appointments and MRI scans – who was bestowed with her own seat at the table.

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Mrs Taylor told Camilla how Olivia has been on chemotherapy most of her life after she was diagnosed with a grade one brain tumour but is on a break at the moment and it was “really lovely that this all happened while she is so well”, to which the Queen replied “she’s so happy – and chatty”.

Olivia felt the decor as she was guided around the room, famous for the Paddington Bear scene filmed with the late Queen as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations.

She then told the Queen she had made her a purple ring, which Camilla called “beautiful” before putting it on.

Olivia and her sister received goodie bags including a corgi teddy, shortbread, socks and a Christmas tree decoration.

The Queen told Olivia she thought Corrie “was going to be a bit jealous” as she hugged the corgi teddy and giggled.

Queen Camilla presents seven-year-old Olivia Taylor from Sidcup with a Christmas presents whilst taking tea at Windsor Castle
Queen Camilla presents seven-year-old Olivia Taylor from Sidcup with a corgi Christmas present whilst taking tea at Windsor Castle
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Olivia Taylor loved her corgi Christmas present

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Christmas twins born weeks early but won’t share same birthday

As the Queen said goodbye to the girls , she said: “[Olivia’s] been such a brave little girl, I’m so glad to have met her.”
After taking a photo with Queen Camilla, both sisters curtseyed, which they had been practising.

Olivia spent time in the Crimson Drawing Room to feel a Christmas tree, chain mail armour and then to touch coronation items including replicas of the Queen’s crown – which she tried on – and replicas of the orb and sceptre.

Seven-year-old Olivia Taylor from Sidcup wears a replica of the Queen Mary crown after taking tea with Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle
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Olivia has the pleasure of trying on the Queen’s crown

After the meeting, Olivia said she “loved meeting the Queen” and the afternoon was “really, really good”.

Mrs Taylor described meeting the Queen as “absolutely amazing” saying she was “really warm” and “good with children”.

She said: “It’s just indescribable really, we’re on a break from chemo and trying to live in the present and make happy memories.

“Disabilities don’t define people, yes that’s part of her but it’s more about her kind personality than anything else. We’re living in the present, we just have to make adjustments, it’s all sensory, the smells, tastes and touches.”

The mother added that Olivia may be back on chemotherapy in the new year.

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IT issue affects flights at Edinburgh Airport

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IT issue affects flights at Edinburgh Airport

All flights were halted at Edinburgh Airport this morning due to an IT issue affecting its air traffic control provider.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the airport later announced service had resumed.

Its post read: “Flights have now resumed following the IT issue with our air traffic provider.

“We thank passengers for their patience and understanding.”

But passengers continue to feel the effects.

A Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Edinburgh was diverted to Dublin after going into a holding pattern over the Scottish capital.

And a live arrivals board on the airport’s website showed multiple flights diverted, delayed and cancelled.

Arrivals board at Edinburgh Airport. Pic: Edinburgh Airport
Image:
Arrivals board at Edinburgh Airport. Pic: Edinburgh Airport

Morven McCall and Cody Stevenson, both 19, were due to fly easyJet from Edinburgh to Amsterdam on their first trip away together.

Morven told Sky News: “We literally just got into the airport and as soon as we walked through the door there was an announcement that it had been cancelled.

“I was ill over the summer and had to cancel two holidays already, this was our first time going away together. We are just gutted and stressed.”

Follow live: Latest updates as flights halted

Arrivals at Edinburgh Airport. File pic: PA
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Arrivals at Edinburgh Airport. File pic: PA

One passenger was on a plane when they found out.

They said: “We boarded our flight and pushed back on time for an 8.45 (am) departure, then sat for a while before the pilot told us what was happening.

“He updated us a couple of times, cabin crew are brilliant at handing out water etc, and I’m surprised that everyone appears to be upbeat. But then you do wonder how long for, just been told we’re hoping to be in the air in 20 minutes.”

Another passenger told us: “The first news was from the airport announcement as we were halfway through boarding, saying the airfield was closed due to air traffic control down.

“No one knew what was going on. We’d already been delayed a bit before boarding, with no reason. I suspect problems started about 9am.”

It comes after an earlier announcement that all flights had been halted.

“No flights are currently operating from Edinburgh Airport,” the previous statement said.

“Teams are working on the issue and will resolve as soon as possible.”

There was no timeframe for recovery initially, Sky News learned.

It’s understood by PA that the issue was not linked to today’s Cloudflare outage.

Edinburgh Trams also posted on X, writing: “If you’re travelling with us to @EDI_Airport this morning, please be aware that flights are not currently operating.”

The airport urged passengers to contact their airline for the latest information on flights.

An average of 43,000 passengers per day use the airport, which is served by 37 airlines flying to 155 destinations.

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Teenager fatally hit by car on motorway had been tasered by police, watchdog says

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Teenager fatally hit by car on motorway had been tasered by police, watchdog says

The police watchdog says it is investigating after a teenager who was tasered by an officer on a motorway was fatally hit by a car.

Logan Smith, 18, was being taken to hospital in an ambulance at about 11pm on Sunday when the vehicle stopped on the hard shoulder of the M5 in Somerset.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the vehicle stopped on the northbound carriageway “due to the concerns of ambulance staff”.

Mr Smith got out of the ambulance near the junction for Weston-super-Mare and “entered the live lanes of the motorway”, the watchdog added.

Police were called and an officer arrived at the scene, with bodycam footage showing the officer discharging their Taser, causing the teenager to fall to the ground.

“Soon afterwards” Mr Smith was struck by a car travelling on the southbound carriageway, the IOPC said.

The watchdog said it was investigating the “actions and decisions taken by Avon and Somerset Police prior to the death of a teenager”.

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “My thoughts and sympathies are with Logan’s family and friends and everyone affected by this shocking and tragic incident. 

“We want to reassure everyone that we will independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the use of a Taser.

“After being notified by the force, we sent our investigators to the police post incident procedure to begin gathering evidence.

“We have taken initial accounts from the officer and ambulance staff involved.

“We met with Logan’s family on Tuesday, to give our condolences, explain our role and to provide some further detail about our investigation, including a Taser being discharged during the incident.

“We will continue to keep them updated and they request that their privacy be respected at such a difficult time.”

The coroner has been informed and formal identification and a post-mortem have taken place.

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Former doctor charged over alleged sexual assaults on 38 patients

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Former doctor charged over alleged sexual assaults on 38 patients

A former doctor has been charged over alleged sexual assaults on 38 patients in his care.

Nathaniel Spencer, 38, has been charged with 15 counts of sexual assault, 17 counts of assault by penetration, nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of assault a child under 13 by penetration and one count of attempted assault by penetration.

It follows a police investigation into alleged sexual offences between 2017 and 2021.

Staffordshire Police said in a statement the charges come after a complex investigation by the Public Protection Unit into sexual offences at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, in Stoke-on-Trent, and Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre
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North Staffordshire Justice Centre

Ben Samples, deputy chief crown prosecutor for the West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit and Serious Violence, Organised Crime and Exploitation Unit, said: “We have decided to prosecute Nathaniel Spencer for a number of serious sexual offences allegedly carried out against patients while he was working as a doctor – including assault by penetration and sexual assault against a child.

“Our prosecutors have worked at length to support a detailed and complex investigation by Staffordshire Police, carefully reviewing the available evidence to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”

Spencer, from Birmingham, will appear at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on 20 January 2026.

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