A 14-year-old who has been 'pen pals' with Meghan Markle for two years got the chance to meet Prince Harry on his royal visit to Nottingham.
Aleyna Genc, of Carlton, gave the Duke of Sussex a toy dog during his visit, which she said was for baby Archie.
The teenager has spent the last year battling a brain tumour and two years ago, after seeing the Duchess of Sussex give a speech at the UN, she decided to write her a letter.
"I wanted to tell her that she had inspired me and so I sent her a letter. We have been sending letters back and forth ever since then," she said.
Aleyna was able to meet Prince Harry on his latest visit to Nottingham Academy to mark World Mental Health Day.
The Duke of Sussex visited the academy on Thursday, October 10 and spent time at a 'nurture session' with Year 7 and 8 girls, a reading class and he addressed Year 11s at a school assembly.
At the end of the visit Prince Harry met with Aleyna where she gave him the toy dog.
He then took her to one side, away from the crowd, and showed her a voice message from his wife - Meghan Markle.
She said: "It was amazing. It is a once-in-a-life time opportunity and I have already got to do it.
"He hugged me at the end too. He is so different to what I expected.
"I have been sending Meghan letters for around two years now and she sent me a voice note which I got to listen to on Harry's phone. She basically wished me well."
Aleyna gave Prince Harry a toy dog which she said was for baby Archie.
She added: "He said he hadn't had much sleep recently because of Archie."
The teenager is recovering from protein beam therapy, an advanced form of radiotherapy, following the removal of a brain tumour.
She said: "I have had surgery several times and they never managed to get all of the tumour out.
"Then I got a new surgeon who removed it all in one go. Now I am one of 30 people in the country having special protein beam therapy treatment in Manchester.
"I am really good now."
