Oliver Burton, who has Down’s syndrome, has been battling various forms of cancer almost his entire life, and was recently diagnosed with terminal spine and bone marrow cancer. Three years ago, his dying wish was to visit Buckingham Palace and have afternoon tea with the Queen.

But Queen Elizabeth II, for whatever reason, was unable to fit the 10-year-old into her schedule. So, Oliver’s situation took a backseat for a day. In 2013, Mirren brought Oliver and his family to Gielgud Theatre to see her as the Queen in Peter Morgan‘s play, The Audience.

And still dressed as THE Queen, she then invited Oliver backstage to have tea and cakes (served by footmen!) and meet her corgi dogs. Mirren, who was made a Dame by the Queen herself, knighted Oliver, giving him the official title of Sir. Oliver’s father James Browne said,

“She stayed in character for the whole thing. Oliver thought she was the real Queen, and well, that’s good enough for us.“

Mirren told The Sun,

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet such a brave young man.“

I know, right? Just when you didn’t think you could love her any more…

(T/Y Tad; via Gawker)