Family
Girl, 8, Receives One Of The Queen’s Final Letters Before Her Death
Olivia’s letter arrived in Tallygaroopna on the day it was announced the Queen had died.
Regional Victoria-based Olivia Akers has received one of the last letters ever sent by the Queen. It was a response to the 8-Year-Old’s adorable photos where she dressed up as a Royal astride on her pony Lady. Her mother, Natalie, was the mastermind behind the military-style costume and has since described the letter as very serendipitous.
The letter from Balmoral Castle arrived in Tallygaroopna the same day Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died.
Olivia’s costume, inspired by the annual Trooping the Color ceremony, had initially been scheduled to debut at a local horse show, but it was later used to compete in a UK-based fancy dress competition online. As it didn’t end up winning, Natalie passed on photos to the Queen herself and included a handwritten note from her daughter.
The letter begins: “Dear Queen Elizabeth, my name is Olivia Akers, I am eight-years-old and live in Tallygaroopna in Australia.”
“I really liked your video with Paddington Bear. Do you really eat marmalade sandwiches? I have included some photos from an online horse fancy dress competition that was for your Platinum Jubilee. I hope you like my photos. My side saddle came from England. My pony’s name is Lady, and she is an Australian pony.”
The letter then concluded: “How many horses do you have? I hope you had a lovely Jubilee. Love Olivia.”
After posting the letter in June, as per DailyMail, Olivia waited for weeks before getting a reply, likely one of the last letters sent by the Queen. Natalie admitted to expecting some parcels when she asked the clerk at the post office. She was instead told: “You don’t have any parcels but you do have a very, very special letter here,” adding she rushed to Olivia’s school to show her.
As anyone would have, Olivia was excited to open the letter and proudly read the Queen’s response to her classmates.
The note read: “The Queen was interested to see the photographs you enclosed in which you and your splendid Pony, Lady, are depicted in the costume you chose for the celebratory competition you entered. Her Majesty was touched to know that you too enjoy horse riding and I am to thank you again for your thoughtfulness in writing to the Queen as you did at this time.”
It was signed by Lady-In-Waiting Annabelle Whitehead.
For Natalie and Olivia, the timing remains remarkable, and Lady who cooperated with the costume is described as the best pony they’ve ever had.
