Prince William and Kate arrive in Calgary meet 6 year old cancer patient Diamond Marshall

Prince William and Kate arrive in Calgary meet 6 year old cancer patient Diamond Marshall.

It was a hug to break hearts.

Six-year-old cancer patient Diamond Marshall only wanted to meet a real "princess," and give her a bunch of flowers -- but filled with joy as the Duchess of Cambridge bent to greet her, little Diamond gave Kate a big hug instead.

"She told me she liked the flowers a lot," said Diamond, after meeting Prince William and his new bride on the runway at Calgary International Airport.

Wearing a bright yellow dress, the Duchess of Cambridge beamed as tiny Diamond ran up to greet her, but instead of flowers, she found herself wrapped up in the girl's arms.

Kate clearly didn't mind a bit, and showing the warm personality that's charmed Canada for the past week, Kate broke into a huge smile and hugged Diamond back.

If the collective "Awwwww," of 200 cynical reporters and photographers doesn't say enough, the relief and happiness in the eyes of Diamond's dad certainly did.

Perhaps Lyall Diamond needed this moment more than anyone. His young daughter's battle with cancer is the second time he's seen a loved one fight the disease, Diamond's mom dying four years ago.

He helped write the letter which led to Thursday's meeting with the Royal Couple.

Diamond, with stage 4 undifferentiated sarcoma, needs a miracle to survive -- but for now, she just wanted to meet a princess.

Lyall helped his daughter write a letter to the Children's Wish Foundation, expressing Diamond's dream of meeting the beautiful woman she'd watched marrying Prince William on television.

"We realize she may not have the chance to go to Disneyland where she wants to lunch with Princess Aurora of the fabled story Sleeping Beauty," he wrote in May.

"Should the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just happen to swing by for a little visit, it would go a long way for helping her spirits, her surrounding family and friends.

"She is in awe of Princess Kate's fairytale-like story."

Diamond wrote her own letter, saying she was named after William's mother Diana, and her mommy is in heaven with her -- and most of all, she'd like to meet Kate.

"Do you want to meet me too?" she wrote.

For Lyall, it was a case of a devastated dad trying to make his daughter's potentially short life as wonderful as possible.

On Thursday, after he and step-mom stood Danielle stood by as William and Kate enchanted their daughter with royal charm, he sounded like a father who'd had a prayer answered.

"I feel relief, a lot of relief," said Lyall, speaking from the limosine which whisked the family away after the ceremony.

"This is so great for her health -- it's such a boost for her emotionally, and for her strength."

Two royal hugs will do that -- Kate gave the girl a second cuddle after receiving the flowers.

Lyall credits the Children's Wish Foundation for arranging the meeting, which took place minutes after the royal helicopter touched down in Calgary.

But he credits Diamond, who's been through surgery and weeks in hospital fighting her illness, with asking to make the dream come true.

"It was her request -- there was so much she could have asked, but she just wanted to meet the royals," said Lyall.

In the limousine, Diamond and her little sister were having the time of their lives.

"We're having a party in a limousine," shouted Diamond, over the phone.

More seriously, she said the royal couple was really nice to her, and while meeting Kate was her wish, she found the future king very charming too.

Asked if she thought he was handsome, Diamond pauses, the says he was -- sort of.

"He was a little bit, yes," said Diamond.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Prince
• William
• and
• Kate
• arrive
• in
• Calgary
• meet
• year
• old
• cancer
• patient
• Diamond
• Marshall

[Twinklebunny1]

Sadly, there are a lot of dumbasses in this world, but William and Kate don't seem to be among them. Good for them for taking the time to make that little girl's day.

[keaner99]

@RulaLAT The french!

[pepenhaful]

THEY SHOULD GIVE STH. TO THE KID. AND NOT THE KID TO THEM!!! WHAT A WORLD. !!!!!!!!!

[zogb9166]

@xxbrokensinxxify kid how old are you? Princes diana was nothing to write home about. And lets not cast judgement on someone you know nothing about. take the log out of your own eye before removing the spec in hers.

[Dharane0902]

@xxbrokensinxxify I agree that Will is naturally more comfortable and caring around children than Kate is. However, I don't think she's an evil child hater. It seems like she was more uncomfortable with the high winds scooping her dress up. I think she would've been alot more natural had she been wearing pants or a fitted dress :)

[TheOfficialMG]

@xxbrokensinxxify i didnt see her push the child away. That little girl is shy and she chose to walk away from Kate. Kate didnt make her leave. Don't make this something it is not because you do not like Kate.

[xxbrokensinxxify]

KATE IS IN IT FOR FAME, AND MONEY, AND ATTENTION...WILL IS ACTULEY CARING FOR HIS FANS...KATE DOESNT LIKE KIDS AT ALL. LOOK AT ALL HER VIDOES WHEN KIDS ARE AROUND HER ARE GO UP TOO HER. SHE WOULDNT BE READY FOR MOTHER HOOD, IF SHE IS PREGNANT. I FEEL SORRY FOR WILL. HE PICKED A WRONG GIRL TOO MOTHER HIS KIDS...

[xxbrokensinxxify]

what a bitch kate was..pushing that child away, when the child hugs her. (kate was like, get away from me freak). and william knows how too handle kids way better. you should be ashaimed kate. you are a worthless role model doing that too a child. specilaey with cancer.kate burn in hell..you well never be like prince dianna.

[thezebrastripe89]

I can't help crying, they're wonderful. Diana would be so proud of Will, and Kate's just lovely.

I hope it really is true that Diamond is cancer free, because that would be amazing <3

[TatarInExile]

@bkironde Just repeated it here, didn't steal it; can't steal from yourself. That was me also on Yahoo Comments. But very observant of you. Well done.

[bkironde]

@TatarInExile you just copied that from the yahoo comment

[TatarInExile]

No man stands so tall as when he stoops to speak to a child.