Tony Hudgell, who suffered abuse by his evil birth parents, turns 10

Tony Hudgell, who had his legs amputated after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his birth parents, has marked his 10th birthday today.

The 10-year-old from Kent who has met the Princess of Wales several times and Queen Consort Camilla received a gushing Instagram tribute post from his adoptive mother, Paula.

She praised 'incredible' Tony, who has recently undergone life changing surgery in Sheffield to enable him to be more mobile into his teenage years and adulthood, writing: 'Happy 10th birthday to our incredible football crazy, Chelsea mad Tony'. 

'You were a true fighter from the day you were born, and you have been fighting every day since. We could not be prouder to call you our son.'

You have achieved in your ten short years more than anyone could achieve in a lifetime - proud of you always - definitely a force of nature and you may drive me crazy everyday, but we love you to the moon and back.' 

Paula went on to list some of Tony's achievements, including raising over £2 million for charity and becoming the youngest person to receive a British Empire Medal from King Charles for his services to the prevention of child abuse. 

She added: 'We cannot wait to see what else you can achieve over the next ten years.'

'You show people every day that the worst possible unimaginable start to life does and will not define the person you are today. 

'I always said you survived for a reason and I now believe you can change the world to make it a better place for so many children.'

Inspired by Captain Tom Moore's fundraising walk in 2020, at the age of just five, Tony walked 10km on his prosthetic legs throughout June 2020 to raise cash.

In addition to raising an impressive sum, the youngster also inspired an English law change, known as 'Tony's Law', enacted in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Tony's Law calls for increased prison sentences for those convicted of child cruelty and neglect.

Tony's biological parents, Anthony Smith and Jody Simpson were each jailed for ten years in 2018 for the torture they inflicted on their 41-day-old son in 2014, leaving him with injuries including broken fingers and toes and torn ligaments.

Despite suffering unspeakable abuse in the earliest days of his life, little Tony has grown up to be a kind and determined boy who has raised around £2 million for charity by walking great distances on his crutches.

Tony has previously been hailed a hero by Prince William and wife Kate over his extraordinary fundraising walks to help vulnerable children.

He set out to raise £500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days in 2020 after being inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £33million walking in his backyard.

In 2021, a foundation set up in his name to enhance the lives of children who have been affected by physical, emotional, or psychological abuse provided more than 700 Christmas presents for youngsters in need, and it continued the tradition last Christmas too.

The 10-year-old's phenomenal fundraising achievements come despite an incredibly tough start to life which led to him undergoing 23 operations and eight blood transfusions.

What is Tony's Law?

Tony's Law is an amendment to Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that was voted by ministers on November 30 2021.

It is named after Tony Hudgell, who was abused by his parents as an infant and suffered life-changing injuries.

His parents, Tony Smith and Jody Simpson, were both jailed for ten years, which was the maximum sentence at the time.

The amendment will increase the maximum penalty for causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child from ten to 14 years, while causing the death of a child will rise from 14 years to life.

The tougher planned sentences could mean that anyone who causes or allows the death of a child or vulnerable adult in their care will face up to life imprisonment, rather than the current 14-year maximum.

The horrific abuse he was subject to by his birth parents caused serious injuries - and the infant also developed sepsis because Smith and Simpson waited 10 days before taking him to hospital.

His fortunes turned around after his life was saved by specialists at the Evelina London Children's Hospital, of which the Princess of Wales is an official patron.

Then, in 2016, he finally found a loving home with Paula and Mark, who have campaigned tirelessly in Tony's interests since welcoming him into the family - including a bid for Tony's Law, which introduced tougher sentences for child cruelty.

They have also encouraged his fundraising efforts to help other children - which have seen him rub shoulders with very famous figures.

After completing his big walk, Tony met the Prince and Princess of Wales who 'spent ages' chatting with the youngster when the couple attended Together At Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey last year. 

He has also met Prince Harry along with a string of celebrities and earlier this year he was singled out for his inspiration by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Despite the attention attention Paula said of Tony: 'He takes all of it in his stride, so to speak. He is just amazing.

'He's very much a people person. He can capture a room of people and will talk to them all.'

In December, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis posted letters to Tony at their mother's annual Christmas service.

It comes after double-amputee Tony attended Buckingham Palace for a 'special' private tea party with Queen Camilla and was awarded a British Empire Medal.

The 10-year-old was 'over the moon' in June when he was invited to attend one of King Charles's garden parties - only to be left bitterly disappointed when he got stuck in traffic on the M20 while making the journey from Maidstone in Kent.

Later that night, he received a consoling word from Palace officials who, in response to the day's misfortune, promised to conjure up another date, assuring Tony: 'Leave it with us.'

On a Wednesday afternoon in July, the Palace were true to their word and an ecstatic Tony joined Queen Camilla for a private tea party in the Summer House.

Shaking their hands, Queen Camilla said: 'Really nice to get you here today. We thought we'd give you a special garden party.'

Tony presented Her Majesty with a bouquet - and she looked delighted to receive them.

And he will have been in for a treat, as tea at the palace includes crustless sandwiches, Kings-guard iced biscuits, miniature profiteroles, strawberry tarts, and squares of chocolate cake – topped with a crown.

The Queen awarded a beaming Tony with a British Empire medal for his fundraising efforts and bravery, who said he was 'very happy' following the royal afternoon out.

He said: 'I was supposed to go to a garden party but we got stuck in traffic. My mum put out a tweet. The Queen's team said 'so sad that you didn't make the garden party today.'

'We found out that I was having a private one with another person called Lyla.'