A bright schoolboy who cares for his disabled mother in their council flat is now going to Eton after winning an £80,000 scholarship.
Ilyan Benamor, 15, will rub shoulders with the elite at the world's most famous school in Windsor, Berkshire, which counts Princes William and Harry and Prime Minister Boris Johnson among its many illustrious alumni.
To win the coveted place, Ilyan, who lives in a small two-bed flat in Stratford, east London, went through a gruelling three-day assessment, which included three entrance exams and multiple interviews.
While his peers at the public school will have enjoyed lives of immense privilege and luxury, Ilyan has been caring for his wheelchair-bound mother Lalia Amal Chikhaoui, 49, since he was 11, spending his spare time cooking, cleaning and shopping.
Lalia had fled Algeria just before the boy was born, leaving behind his father - who was left in a vegetative state by a hit-and-run in the country.
She has suffered ill health throughout her life and was diagnosed with cancer when Ilyan was nine, and now suffers from a debilitating condition called Functioning Neurological Disorder (FND), limiting her mobility.
After winning the scholarship Ilyan, who wants to be a politician, said: 'It is an incredible story. Maybe I will write a book one day. It is certainly triumph over adversity because it has been very difficult at times.'
Ilyan Benamor, 15, has been caring for his wheelchair-bound mother Lalia Amal Chikhaoui, 49, (both pictured yesterday) since he was 11, spending his spare time cooking, cleaning and shopping
Ilyan pictured at hospital where his mother Lalia was having treatment for cancer in 2015
He added: 'I am so proud of my mum. Everything she has been through. If it was not for her fighting to get us to the UK then I would never have got this chance. I love her so much and am so happy at how proud she is.
'It is hard to put into words how grateful I am to my school as well. They have helped me and my mum so much. They even bought me a printer so could print out my work at home. They have gone above and beyond for me so many times.'
Ilyan was born in France and moved briefly to Spain before his mother eventually got a visa to the UK when he was three years old.
Ilyan and his mother do not have any family in the UK but his uncle plans to move over so that he can take on the responsibility of caring for Lalia while Ilyan studies at Eton.
Lalia also has a carer provided by Newham Council, who comes every day for three hours.
Lalia said: 'I am so happy and relieved. Living in East London you worry when they get to teenage years something may happened, because of gangs and knife crime
'But Eton is not a place where
