Royal visit: Sick girl's princess dream a reality

Lili Reynolds (8) with her father Shane after meeting the Duke and Duchess. Photo / Andrew Koubaridis

Brave Lili has had three operations, 17 radiotherapy treatments, with 13 more to go for a brain tumour

Lili Reynolds began her day getting treatment for cancer and dreaming of meeting a princess.

A few hours later she was standing with her father Shane at the Viaduct Basin and presenting the Duchess of Cambridge with flowers.

"I said 'Pleased to meet you, Your Royal Highness'," Lili told the Weekend Herald after the meeting.

She'd practised what to say "all last night".
Lili got to meet them after their brief walkabout at the Viaduct and before their race on Auckland Harbour.

When the moment finally arrived the Duchess told her it was nice to meet her as well "and I hope everything goes okay with your treatment".

She also thanked Lili for the flowers which were "really pretty".

Lili has had three operations and 17 radiotherapy treatments with a further 13 to go for a brain tumour that was diagnosed when she was 5.

Mr Reynolds said she suffered from headaches doctors couldn't explain and eventually a CT scan revealed the tumour .

Since then she had been very brave and had told the Make-A-Wish Foundation she wanted a princess playhouse.

She also wrote that she wanted to meet a princess who was "royal and beautiful". Make-A-Wish co-ordinator Louise Judd then contacted Team NZ and arranged a meeting with real royalty.

Lili mainly spoke with Kate but did shake hands with Prince William. It was more exciting than nerve- racking, Lili said. It was nice to see the royal couple up closer than almost everyone else had. "I'd seen them before in magazines and a little bit on TV. She is really beautiful." The couple pointed out the boats they would be racing on. "They said they were going for a ride." The people she'd told about the meeting were "so jealous".

Donations

If you want to make a donation to help wishes come true like Lili's text WISH to 5464