[Blurb2350]

During the summer of 1970, when I would have been headed to junior high the next school year, my dad and I were out in the backyard chatting when the queen's recent Canada trip was came up. "I wonder if she had fun?" "Why don't you write and ask her?" "Really? You can write to the queen?" "Sure, why not." So I wrote her a silly little letter and sent it off, never expecting an answer. Well, several months later -- with the new schoolyear uderway, the letter long-forgotten -- there arrived a small envelope in the mail, addressed to me, all the way from England! With a smart little stamp! I was stunned. It was just a short note on very heavy paper thanking me for my kind words and ensuring me that, yes, Her Majesty very much enjoyed her Canadian trip. Alas it was signed not by the queen but by a lady-in-waiting. Oh well. But it did say "I am commanded by Her Majesty to thank you . . ." This was a great consolation, to know that the writer had been commanded to do something on my account. Perhaps because I was so used to being bossed around by adults, it was a treat to know an adult had been bossed around on my account. I think that letter must be here somewhere . . .

[billorites]

My sister received a similar note signed by a lady-in-waiting in reply to a birth announcement regarding my niece.

Thank you notes should always be hand written, on heavy stock and promptly delivered. It's a sign of good breeding.

[jjotto]

Reminds me of two Minnesota radio guys when Charles and Diana married. They sent a toaster as a wedding gift and called the Palace to see if it had been received.