A 10-year-old girl from North Tyneside received one of the last letters sent out by the Queen before her death.
Millie Francis penned a letter to Queen Elizabeth II back in June to congratulate her on her Platinum Jubilee. The youngster was stunned when she received a letter back from Buckingham Palace on Monday this week.
It contained a card with the UK longest-reigning monarch's picture and the message: "I send you my grateful thanks for your kind message on the occasion of the Seventieth Anniversary of my Accession to the Throne. Elizabeth R 2022"
Millie, who lives in North Shields, was devastated to learn just three days later that the Queen had passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She is now keeping her cherished card, which is dated September 2, safe in a folder.
She said: "It feels really precious to me and it feels like the best thing that can ever happen to a kid. I'm going to take it to school on Monday but I'm not letting everyone touch it!"
Millie's mum Mary Francis, 30, said Millie wrote the letter with the help of her uncle - Mary's twin brother Alex Francis. She said her daughter sent it to the Queen but she did not expect her to receive a response. She was stunned when a letter addressed to Millie came through the post on Monday, September 5 from Buckingham Palace.
Mary, who is also mum to Maisie, 12, said: "Millie was jumping for joy when I told her 'You have got a letter from the Queen'. It's so special, she received it on the Monday and the next thing we know the Queen has passed away.
"I didn't think she would get a response. They get millions of letters every year from around the world and they can't send a letter to everyone. I was shocked when I saw the Buckingham Palace stamp."
Millie, who attends Preston Grange Primary School, said: "I jumped down the stairs. I was quite shocked because not everyone gets a letter. I felt really excited and it's really special to me. We couldn't believe it."
Mary said it was upsetting to learn about Queen Elizabeth II passing away on Thursday. She said they watched the Proclamation of King Charles III on Saturday and they are keen to travel to London for his coronation.
She said: "We got a big shock when the Queen died. I didn't think she was going to go, I just thought she was poorly. It's quite upsetting because she was so lovely as well. They seem like a lovely family.
"It's a shock to the system. You instantly lose a Queen and then get a King. It's the first time we have ever seen anyone become King.
"I'm trying to get my brother to take us down to London to be there for the coronation. It's history - it's something to tell your kids and your grandkids."
Millie added: "I like all of the kids and I like the Queen and I like Prince Charles. I just like all of them!"
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