A GROUP of young girls were royally pleased when they received a special letter on behalf of the Queen.

To celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday in June, the Vickerstown Methodist Rainbows decided to send her a birthday card filled with pictures and letters.

They were over the moon when they found out they had received a response from Buckingham Palace, alongside a picture of the Queen.

For Julie Eacott, leader of the Vickerstown Rainbows, it was a wonderful moment for her to see the surprise on the girls' faces.

She said: "They were really surprised. I sat them down and said 'the Queen's special lady has written back to us.'

"They were really excited."

A letter written by one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting thanked the girls for their presents, and apologised for the lateness of the Palace's reply.

Mrs Eacott said: "They are going to get a letter of their own to print off and keep."

The Rainbows used the run-up to the Queen's birthday to learn more about her and the monarchy.

Mrs Eacott said: "They learn things about the world they live in, they learn and they have fun."

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