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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

Read more:
King and Queen show their funny side in documentary

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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‘I was told this was a wonder drug but not warned about the deathly consequences’: 100 faces of infected blood scandal

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'I was told this was a wonder drug but not warned about the deathly consequences': 100 faces of infected blood scandal

“Losing Gary, my soul mate, was beyond painful,” says Kathryn Croucher, whose husband died aged 42 in 2010.

“Every day was a struggle dealing with the knowledge he was HIV and Hepatitis C positive.”

“Mum always said she was given a death sentence,” recalls Ronan Fitzgerald. His mother, Jane, died aged 54 after being infected with Hepatitis C when she was 16. “It was a ticking time bomb.”

Updates:
Scandal was ‘not an accident’
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The faces of the infected blood scandal.

More than 30,000 Britons were infected with HIV and Hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Around 3,000 people have died as a result of the scandal, while many more still live under the shadow of health problems, debilitating treatments and stigma. Now, the findings of a public inquiry, first announced in 2017, will finally be published.

These are 100 faces of infected blood victims that either they, or their families, have shared with Sky News.

Click the images to read their stories.

Sky News will have full coverage of the infected blood report on TV, online and on the Sky News app today.

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Sky News would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project.

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Julian Assange wins High Court bid to bring appeal against extradition to US

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Julian Assange wins High Court bid to bring appeal against extradition to US

Julian Assange will be allowed to appeal against his extradition to the United States.

Two judges responded today to US assurances that Mr Assange will not face the death penalty – and can rely on the First Amendment right to free speech if he faced a trial for spying.

The WikiLeaks founder faces prosecution in the US over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information after the publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2017. Pic: Reuters
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2017. Pic: Reuters

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a police van after being arrested in London in 2019. Pic: Reuters
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a police van after being arrested in London in 2019. Pic: Reuters

Edward Fitzgerald KC, representing Assange, criticised the assurances of Joe Biden’s US administration at the hearing. He said: “Based on the principle of the separation of powers, the US court can and will apply US law, whatever the executive may say or do.”

He added most of the promises were “blatantly inadequate” – but they had accepted the promise about the death penalty.

In written submissions, the barrister said while the assurance over the death penalty was “an unambiguous executive promise”, the other assurance does not give “any reliable promise as to future action”.

The barrister added: “What needs to be conclusively removed is the risk that he will be prevented from relying on the first amendment on grounds of nationality.”

But James Lewis KC, representing the US government, insisted the “judicial branch of the United States will take due notice of this solemn assurance given by its government in the course of international relations”.

In written submissions, he said there is “no question” that Assange, if extradited, “will be entitled to the full panoply of due process trial rights, including the right to raise, and seek to rely upon, the first amendment as a defence”.

He later told the court: “The assurance does make it clear that he will not be discriminated against because of his nationality.

“He can and will be able to raise all those arguments and his nationality will not prejudice a fair trial.”

Today’s decision is the latest chapter in 13 years of legal battles and detentions for Australian-born Mr Assange.

A woman attends a protest outside the High Court on the day of an extradition hearing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, in London, Britain, May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
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Supporters of Mr Assange have been gathering outside the High Court. Pic: Reuters

A police officers looks on near a placard outside of the Royal Court of Justice.
Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

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The US authorities want to put Mr Assange on trial over 18 charges, nearly all under the Espionage Act.

They claim his actions with WikiLeaks were reckless, damaged national security, and endangered the lives of agents.

During a two-day hearing in February, lawyers for Mr Assange asked for permission to challenge a judge’s dismissal of the majority of his case to prevent his extradition.

In March, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson dismissed most of Mr Assange’s legal arguments – but said unless assurances were given by the US, he would be able to bring an appeal on three grounds.

These assurances are that Assange would be protected by and allowed to rely on the First Amendment – which protects freedom of speech in the US – that he is not “prejudiced at trial” due to his nationality, and that the death penalty is not imposed.

People attend a protest outside the High Court 
Pic: Reuters
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Pic: Reuters

People attend a protest outside the High Court
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Pic: Reuters

Supporters of Mr Assange have already been gathering outside the High Court to continue their calls for his release.

Mr Assange is currently being held in London’s high security Belmarsh prison.

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Hunt for two suspects after man dies in Glasgow stabbing

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Hunt for two suspects after man dies in Glasgow stabbing

Detectives are on the hunt for two men following a fatal stabbing in Glasgow at the weekend.

Police Scotland said the force received a report of a man being attacked and stabbed in Saracen Street, Possil, at around 5pm on Saturday.

Emergency services attended and took the 27-year-old victim to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where he later died.

The death is being treated as “suspicious” ahead of the completion of a post-mortem examination.

Investigating officers have since established that two men were involved in the attack.

The suspects have been described as white and in their 30s.

One was wearing a light-blue top and black shorts, while the other was dressed in a white top, black shorts and black trainers.

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Officers have been gathering and reviewing CCTV footage from in and around the neighbourhood as the probe continues.

Additional patrols have also been mobilised to the area, and anyone with information or concerns can approach these officers.

Read more from Sky News:
The stories behind 100 victims of infected blood scandal
Probe launched after man dies in police custody

Detective Inspector Lesley-Ann McGee said: “It was a warm, sunny day and there were lots of people out enjoying the weather in Saracen.

“I am asking them to get in touch with us with any information that could assist us in establishing the motive for this attack. If you saw, heard or know anything please contact us.

“I’m also asking people with dashcam or doorbell recording equipment to check for any footage that could assist our investigation.

“A family is mourning the loss of a loved one and it’s imperative we are able to answer how their loved one died.”

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