The Duchess of Cornwall becomes the new Royal Patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity

Today, The Duchess of Cornwall invited children and young people from Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity to help decorate the Clarence House Christmas tree.

Her Royal Highness is patron of Helen & Douglas House, which helps families cope with the challenges of looking after a terminally ill baby, child or young adult. The Duchess took up her role in 2007 and this will be the eighth time that families supported by the charity, along with hospice staff, have been invited to decorate the Clarence House Christmas tree.

Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity was founded more than 25 years ago by Felicity Dahl in memory of the determination of her husband Roald Dahl, the famous children's author, to improve the lives of those around him.

The charity provides specialist nurses for a range of conditions to ensure all seriously ill children and their families receive the support they need and deserve.

Working in tandem with the NHS, the charity has now funded 58 specialist nursing posts around the UK, helping more than 12,000 seriously ill children and their families each year.

During the festivities, it was announced that The Duchess of Cornwall has been named as the new Royal Patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity.

Jane Miles, chief executive of the organisation, said: "This is absolutely marvellous, The Duchess becoming our patron."

She added: "Anybody who knew Roald Dahl knew he was all about innovation and imagination so we're trying to look at innovative ways to help these children.

"We're very aware there are so many groups in this country who are underfunded, so if you think about the Roald Dahl stories, they were all about the underdog emerging victorious so that is what this charity wishes to focus on.

"With The Duchess of Cornwall highlighting these groups - like sickle cell and rare diseases - it will be great for her to raise awareness so people get to understand more about the adversity suffered by these children."

After the Christmas tree was decorated, the children and young adults were invited to share lunch with Her Royal Highness, which featured Christmas tree-shaped biscuits and mince pies (of course!)