My intention was to exchange views on British history, literature and bilateral relations as a young enthusiast asking the Queen to tea with me one day. When Prince William married Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011, the world watched that wedding ceremony. The letter also included my warmest wedding congratulations for the Royal couple.

 One day as I was leaving class, my professor came over and asked if I had a few minutes to chat. We conducted a critical discussion of some literary texts for a while. Later, I revealed that I wrote a letter to the Queen. My professor laughed loudly.

 

 Of course, I knew that the Queen received thousands of letters daily not only from the UK and the Commonwealth, but from all over the world. Nonetheless, I was still hopeful. After she finished laughing, she asked my intention for doing so. I just explained that in my research I found myself with a growing respect for the monarch.

 

 A few weeks passed. During a class lecture, she asked me if I had any response from the Royal Family. Everyone in the class was shocked. She didn’t write back, of course, but I am eagerly awaiting a reply.

 

 While my classmates were staring at me with their mouth wide open, I raised my voice immediately. "I realised we were discovering a profoundly intriguing part of British culture via these literary works, so I wrote to her," I explained. I had a dream one night- I was invited to attend a ceremonial event at Buckingham Palace. When my name was announced I

walked forward, turned towards the Queen. She was looking very happy and asked me to tell her about my work and my

interest in British literature and journalism.

 

 Then the Queen gave me a brief interview, which was soon picked up by papers all over the world. We then walked out of Buckingham Palace and so many people outside gathered around wanting to know what it was like talking to the Queen as well as lots of photos taken. This dream was fascinating though the reality was that I received no response.

Fortunately, years later, by a twist of fortune, I had been involved in covering the Royals when I was a foreign news correspondent. Once with James Bond and once with Michael Bond’s creation. Both times, I covered news regarding the Queen.

 

 I am still hopeful that the Royal Family will send me a letter from Her Majesty in the future. This is because it has recently been reported that Queen Elizabeth II left a secret letter to the citizens of Sydney that cannot be opened until 2085.

 

 Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, at the age of 96, tributes to the Queen were paid at cultural landmarks worldwide. In New York , the Queen’s image appeared on the billboards at Times Square.

 

 Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, was Queen of Great Britain and head of the Commonwealth for over 70 years.

 

  I am still hopeful that the Royal Family will send me a letter from Her Majesty in the future. This is because it has recently been reported that Queen Elizabeth II left a secret letter to the citizens of Sydney that cannot be opened until 2085.

 

 jp-dk