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Not sure if I'm happier for the thought, or angrier with the dishonesty...
http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/alt-news/...lls-a-dying-boys-wish-tea-with-the-queen.htmlDame Helen Mirren brought some joy to a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome by dressing up as the Queen and having him 'round for tea.
Oliver Burton, who is facing a tough battle with cancer, told his parents he really wanted to visit Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen.
The National Children's Tumour Leukemia Cancer Trust wrote to the Queen asking her to meet with Oliver, but she said she "could not meet with everyone who asked for a royal appointment" according to The Daily Mail.
So, the charity reached out to Dame Helen Mirren instead. The actress portrayed 'The Queen' in the 2006 film, and she's currently playing the role again in a production of 'The Audience' in London.
Mirren arranged for a limo to bring Oliver and his mother Catherine Browne to a performance, and invited them backstage afterwards.
Mirren and Burton backstage (Photo: SWSN.com/Jane Burton)
During the visit, she stayed in costume and in character, introducing Oliver to her corgi dogs and knighting him "Sir Oliver." She even had a "butler" on hand.
Mirren gave him her seat while she sat in Oliver's wheelchair, as they shared a glass of pop and some sandwiches.
No surprise, her performance was bang on.
"She stayed in character for the whole thing," said his father, James Browne. "Oliver thought she was the real Queen, and well, that's good enough for us. She was really lovely."
Oliver, who was born with Down syndrome, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, when he was three. Since then, doctors have twice told his parents he had only hours to live, but he's defied the odds.
Earlier this month though, doctors informed his parents that Oliver's latest cancer relapse can't be cured and he might have only weeks or months left.
"It is just waiting now. Oliver doesn't follow a rule book with these things and just keeps proving everyone wrong," his father said. "We are just waiting. We are all over the place really, we don't know what is going on yet."