Olivia Akers on the pony described by the Queen's emissary as "splendid".
A little Tallygaroopna girl has had the privelege of delighting the Queen’s heart in the months before the monarch died.
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The morning the news filtered through about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Olivia Akers received a letter from Balmoral Castle, telling her the Queen had seen her photos of Oliva and her horse, Lady.
Olivia 9, was dressed up as the Queen, reviewing the Trooping of the Colour parade, with meticulous detail, including the English side-saddle on Lady.
Olivia wrote a letter to the queen telling how she liked the funny video with Paddington Bear, asking if she kept a marmalade sandwhich in her hand-bag and describing her Australian Pony, Lady.
The letter from the Queen's lady in waiting to Olivia Akers.
On the morning of September 9, just as Australians were learning of the death of the Queen, Olivia received a letter in the mail from a lady in waiting, telling her the Queen “was interested in seeing the photographs you enclosed” .
“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.....”
Olivia, the daughter of Geoff and Nat Akers, originally worked on the costume with her mum for a jubilee photo competition, but when that was unsuccessful decided to write a personal note and include some photos.
The letter Olivia Akers sent to the queen.
When the family heard the sad news of the Queen’s passing on Friday morning, they almost gave up of ever getting a reply.
Little did they know, there was a special letter with the embossed Balmoral Castle name waiting for them at the Tallygaroopna Post Office the same morning.
Nat picked up the letter and dropped it off at school, where Olivia was invited to read the reply out to her amazed school mates.