He is the little boy who beamed ear to ear after being gifted three books and a giant chocolate coin from King Charles. 

Adorable Ellis Edwards, 11, won the hearts of the nation as the smartly dressed schoolboy proudly told of how he was very excited to meet the 75-year-old monarch as Charles made his return to public-facing duties. 

But beneath the smiles, like the King, Ellis is facing his own cancer battle and has been fighting the disease for half of his life. 

Today, for a brief moment, Ellis and Charles could forget their health worries together as the little boy charmed Queen Camilla with details about his visits to Hamleys and the cinema. 

The youngster's mother, Carly, said the meet outside the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London - where inside he is receiving radiotherapy treatment - was a 'nice distraction' for him. 

Adorable Ellis Edwards, 11, won the hearts of the nation as the smartly dressed schoolboy received three books and a giant chocolate coin from King Charles 

But beneath the smiles, like the King, Ellis is facing his own cancer battle and has been fighting the disease for half of his life (Ellis chats with Queen Camilla outside the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London)

The boy from Southampton greeted the King and Queen with his mother and gave them flowers.

READ MORE: Young cancer sufferer, 11, tells of his excitement as he's handed presents from Charles and Camilla outside hospital

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Ellis was given Swallows And Amazons by Arthur Ransome, The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono and My Family And Other Animals by Gerald Durrell.

He later said: 'I was telling her [Camilla] about my treatment and my trip to Leicester Square, going to Hamleys and the cinemas. It was very exciting meeting them.'

Carly added: 'It's a really nice distraction this. I'm really proud of him, he's really brave and a superstar so it's great he can do something nice. He deserves it.'

Five years earlier, Ellis was diagnosed aged five with a rare childhood cancer called neuroblastoma, causing a cancerous tumour which crushed his left lung.

The pain was so excruciating it was too painful for him to eat. By the time he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer his weight had plummeted and he 'looked like a skeleton'.

He underwent life-or-death surgery at Southampton General hospital to remove the tumour.

Carly told The Mirror in 2019 doctors told her and his father Andrew to say their goodbyes beforehand in case he didn't pull through. 

Ellis picture in 2020. He was diagnosed aged five with a rare childhood cancer called neuroblastoma

The cancerous tumour crushed his lung and the pain was so excruciating little Ellis could not eat, causing his weight to plummet

By Christmas 2019 he had spent a month in isolation and was undergoing his ninth gruelling round of chemotherapy

His chances of survival were just 50-50 with little boy not able to talk or open his eyes. 

Parents Carly and Andrew lived in Bournemouth at the time and were making an hour long trip just to see their courageous son in hospital.  

READ MORE: Boy visited his GP 11 TIMES before he was taken to A&E and diagnosed with the 'largest tumour medics had ever seen' 

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By Christmas 2019 he had spent a month in isolation and was undergoing his ninth gruelling round of chemotherapy. 

In 2020, MailOnline reported on how Ellis visited his GP 11 times before he was found to have what doctors described as the largest tumour they had ever seen.

It was missed on successive trips to the doctor when Carly and Andrew noticed the youngster was lacking energy and losing weight. 

He was eventually diagnosed in March 2019, aged just five, by which point he was a 'skeleton'.

The cancer had spread down his entire left side from his shoulder blade down to his abdomen.

The extensive treatment Ellis underwent reduced his cancer by 85 per cent.

Carly said in 2020: 'We didn't realise it had been so many appointments until we tallied it up and they accept they did make some mistakes.

'Having said that the care they've given has been amazing generally and we could never thank them enough.'

Ellis (front right) pictured with his brother William and parents Carly and Andrew 

It comes as the King bravely met cancer patients on the first public engagement since his own diagnosis just hours before he went for treatment himself.

Charles, 75, said it was a 'bit of a shock' to have been given a cancer diagnosis, but said he wasn't doing 'too bad'.

Asked how he was, by a patient undergoing chemotherapy, the King replied: 'Not too bad. It's always a bit of a shock, isn't it, when they tell you?'

During the visit with Camilla, he was asked repeatedly how he was feeling, telling someone: 'I'm alright thank you very much, not too bad.'

Finishing his conversation with a patient who will be continuing her own treatment later, he said: 'I know the feeling.'