Royal Watch News

Patient excited about Duchess Catherine meeting

Feb 14, 2012, 13:01 GMT

Duchess Catherine

A sick seven-year-old girl is 'really excited' about meeting Britain's Duchess Catherine.

The duchess is due to visit Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital today (14.02.12) in one of her first solo official engagements and little Aimee Haswell - who was diagnosed with a rare type of congenital heart disease, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, when she was just nine days old - can't wait to see her.

Aimee's mother Lisa said: 'Aimee is a miracle! We call her 'our little star' and when we received the phone call on Tuesday to say she had been nominated to greet the duchess, words cannot describe our feelings.

'Aimee is really excited and is already rehearsing her curtsy. She couldn't wait to get into school and tell everyone the exciting news! Aimee deserves this more than anyone I can think of. She's a very strong, brave, happy little girl who has been through so much in her short life.'

During her visit, Catherine will be given a tour of the hospital's burns and oncology units and will also visit Ronald McDonald house, which provides free accommodation to the families of very sick children being treated at Alder Hey.