PRINCE Charles sent his “love to everyone in the Lakes” when he met a remarkable Kendal boy during a visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Seven-year-old Ruben White also got a chuckle from Charles after asking the heir to the throne ‘out of the blue’ if he had any pets.

Ruben became an ambassador for the Liverpool hospital after receiving life-changing surgery there three years ago.

The Dean Gibson School pupil was suffering more than 20 seizures a day at the age of five, but following brain surgery at Alder Hey for his epilepsy is now free from them.

Ruben was one of just two children chosen to greet HRH as he toured the new multi-million pound facility – due to open in September, replacing the current century-old Alder Hey.

He presented the Prince with Alder Hey’s toy mascot, Oli the blue elephant, to give to his grandson George.

Another young patient, Erin Rose Cross, aged four, from Chester, presented a gift of a toy pink heart which sported the name of The Prince's grand-daughter, Charlotte.

Ruben’s mother Ann-Marie White said: “He asked where we were from, and when we told him he said how much he loved the Lake District.

“He talked about Ruben’s operation, and laughed when Ruben said the scar from his surgery had faded but he still had one on his forehead from falling out of paddling pool.

“Then out of the blue he asked: ‘Prince Charles, do you have any pets?’ to which the Prince laughingly replied that he had ‘geese and chickens’, and ‘one or two’ horses.”

Before continuing with the rest of his tour, HRH asked Ruben to: “Give my love to everyone living in that beautiful part of the world.”

Mrs White said: “He came across to me as really warm, friendly and funny – it was great that the two children got a lot of time with him, and Ruben really enjoyed it.”