IT’S not every day that you receive a letter from royalty, but that’s exactly what happened to a six-year-old from Chineham last month.

Royal fan George Mearing, six, sent a letter to the Queen last October about how much he wanted to be a royal guard and he included some pictures of himself dressed in the iconic uniform.

Then, on Friday 17 February mum Helen Mearing spotted the envelope on the doormat. “I saw the envelope and the paper and immediately knew who it was from,” she said. “I left it there for him to find and his face lit up when he saw it. He’s such a fan of the royal family.”

George first became interested in the royal family when he saw the Trooping of the Colour ceremony on television at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations last year. Impressed by the uniform of the guards, he was moved to send the monarch a letter about how much he enjoyed dressing up as a soldier.

“I didn’t really expect to get a reply,” Helen continued. “But it was a really nice surprise for him to actually get a personalised reply from the Queen’s lady-in-waiting with the royal seal.”

The royal reply from the palace said that while the Queen was sorry that she couldn’t reply personally, she was pleased to her that George was enjoying learning about the royal guards and the royal family.

It also contained some leaflets and information on the guards and their manoeuvres, including the changing of the guard.

One day, George would like to meet some of the royal family, especially after hearing about Prince William visiting Basingstoke hospital in October last year. George was jealous after seeing the video that his grandmother, who works at the hospital, took of the prince visiting.

The Four Lanes Infant School student has visited Windsor Castle several times since he first went in July last year.