Duchess of Cambridge is 'remarkable', says mum of pretty in pink Mila

Watch: Mila Sneddon rides scooter to raise money for cancer cure

The mother of Mila Sneddon, 5, who has a rare type of blood cancer, has said that a meeting with the Duchess of Cambridge had a significant impact on her small daughter.

Back in May, when Prince William and Kate were touring Scotland, a meeting was arranged between the Duchess of Cambridge and little Mila at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Kate wore a Disney-style candy-pink dress by ME+EM, having promised that she would wear pink, at Mila's request.

“I can’t put into words how remarkable the Duchess of Cambridge has been," Lynda has now told Hello! Magazine.

“She was so caring and considerate. I got a real sense of her being a mother in the way she spoke to Mila. There were challenges, because of all the Covid restrictions and wearing masks, but she said she wanted to give Mila a big hug."

The Duchess of Cambridge met Mila Sneddon, aged five, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in May (Jane Barlow/PA)
The Duchess of Cambridge met Mila Sneddon, aged five, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in May (Jane Barlow/PA)

Read more:Kate Middleton Wore a Bright Pink Princess Dress For a Special Reason

The two initially spoke when Mila was featured in a picture from Kate’s lockdown photographic project which became Hold Still, a book of 100 poignant photographs taken during the pandemic and curated to provide a snapshot of UK life in lockdown.

The picture of Mila struck a chord with many, as she was shown kissing the kitchen window as her dad, Scott, stood outside. The two were isolating separately, as Mila was undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, and her key-worker dad was unable to stay home.

The family made the difficult decision to keep Mila away from her father to minimise the risk of her catching COVID-19. For seven weeks, Mila only got to see him through the window of their home in Falkirk, Scotland.

Watch: Kate keeps her promise and wears pink for Mila

Lynda took the touching photo and submitted it.

When Kate saw it, she contacted Mila's family, and spoke to the little girl on the phone. Mila told her that she'd like to meet a real Princess, dressed in pink, because it's her favourite colour.

Five year-old Mila Sneddon, a cancer patient who featured in an image from the Hold Still photography project which showed her kissing her father Scott through a window whilst she was shielding during her chemotherapy treatment, waits to meet Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 27, 2021. (Photo by Jane Barlow / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Five year-old Mila Sneddon waits to meet the Duchess of Cambridge at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. (Photo by Jane Barlow / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JANE BARLOW via Getty Images)
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 27: Mila Sneddon, aged five, with her sister Jodi Sneddon (left), mother Lynda Sneddon and father Scott Sneddon after meeting Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on May 27, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Cancer patient Mila features in an image from the Hold Still photography project which showed her kissing her father Scott through a window whilst she was shielding during her chemotherapy treatment. (Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Mila with her sister Jodi Sneddon (left), mother Lynda Sneddon and father Scott Sneddon after meeting Kate.(Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool via Getty Images)

When the. royal tour reached Edinburgh in May, Kate ensured that Mila was well enough for the meeting to go ahead, and the two shared a sofa as Mila, also dressed in pink, chatted to Kate.

"Hi Mila, look at you. I want to give you a big squeezy cuddle - it's so nice to meet you in person," Kate said. She also asked Mila to "do a little twirl," so she could admire her outfit.

Asked what they had talked about, Mila confessed ""Well, I was busy drawing a picture — a robot."

Kate chats to Mila Sneddon (Hello!)
Kate chats to Mila Sneddon (Hello!)

After the special meeting, Mila's family joined the Cambridges to watch a traditional ceremony in the Holyrood courtyard, during which the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Combined Cadet Force in Scotland played while dancers performed.

Mila will remember it forever, says Lynda, recalling that Mila was even given silver service for a bowl of Rice Krispies when she mentioned she was hungry during her visit, adding: “They sent in a butler with a silver platter, silver bowl and silver jug.

Five year-old cancer patient Mila Sneddon (L), who features in an image from the Hold Still photography project, speaks to Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as she and her family attend a Beating Retreat by The Massed Pipes and Drums of the Combined Cadet Force in Scotland as special guests of the Royal couple, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland on May 27, 2021, the final day of their week-long visit to the country. (Photo by Jane Barlow / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Mila, Jodi and Lynda chat to the Duke and Duchess.(Photo by Jane Barlow / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JANE BARLOW via Getty Images)

“I told her, ‘You’re going to come down to earth with a huge bump when we get home and you ask for your Rice Krispies tomorrow’.”

Mila has now launched her own charity campaign, Scoot In September, which encourages people to raise funds and awareness for Blood Cancer UK by posting pictures of their loved ones.

The full interview is in Hello!, out now.

Watch: Romance rewind! Prince William and Kate to Visit University where they met

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