The envelope is usual from the British Royals.
The back of the envelope features the black crown/Kensington Palace that is used by the Cambridges.
Inside is a letter and a postcard-sized photocard.
The photocard features a lovely photo of Princess Charlotte taken by Duchess Kate. This is from the
set of official photos that were released for Charlotte's birthday.
The back of the card features the usual sort of message. It is similar to past years, but they change it up slightly every year. The top of the card features the black crown/Kensington Palace. This was added to the Cambridge & Sussexs cards in January, so this is the first time we've seen it on Princess Charlotte's birthday reply.
The card reads:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appreciated your kind thought in writing to Princess Charlotte as you did on the occasion of her fourth birthday.
Included with the card is a letter from Claudia Spens, head of the correspondence section at Clarence House. In my birthday letter to Princess Charlotte, I had also sent my congratulations to Duchess Kate on being appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by the Queen. I had sent my anniversary wishes to the Cambridges in my birthday letter for Prince Louis, and received a letter in reply. But as I had written & sent that letter before their anniversary, when this honor was announced, I wasn't able to include my congratulations to Kate for her Royal Victorian Order.
This was greatly appreciated by Their Royal Highnesses who send you their best wishes.
The letter reads:
Dear Miss Daly,
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to thank you for your kind letter of 2nd.
Their Royal Highnesses are grateful to you for taking the trouble to write as you did and were touched by your kind words of support regarding Her Royal Highness's recent appointment as Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). It really was most thoughtful of you. You may be interested to know that the order of chivalry was established in 1896 by Queen Victoria to recognise personal service to the monarch.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to send you their warmest thanks and best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Claudia Spens
Clarence House's annual report reveals that they received 123,303 letters/cards from well-wishers from April 2018-March 2019. (Clarence House answers all of Charles, Camilla, The Cambridges & Sussexs mail.) This is a big increase from previous years:
2018-2019: 123,303
2017-2018: 53,716
2016-2017: 39,783
2015-2016: 43,036
To deal with the increase in mail, Clarence House has hired more staff for their Correspondence Section. They now have equal to 5.0 full-time staff members.
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The letter says private and confidential - why are you sharing it publicly?
ReplyDeleteAll of the mail from Clarence House is stamped with that, as a fail safe in case there is any sensitive information. "Private and confidential" on a letter just means that my secretary isn't supposed to open it (unless they have my express permission). It is suppose to be given directly to me just incase there is any sensitive information. But I'm allowed to share it. And I can give others permission to read it.
DeleteAnd Clarence House is very aware that people share their letters. They just include this on all their letters, so that they never mistakenly leave it off something with sensitive information.
do you find that you need to ask for a photo to receive a reply back? I've sent a couple of cards and have never asked for anything and wondering if that's why I have never received a reply.
ReplyDeleteI never ask for a photo.
DeleteHow soon before the event do you send out a card/letter? I'm also in the US and know that it takes about a week or so for them to receive it in the mail. For example; a birthday. Do you send it a few weeks before, a week before, etc? Just wondering your timeframe
ReplyDeleteFor events you write ahead of time (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) about 2 weeks ahead of time is perfect. But I often get lazy and don't get it out till a few days before.
DeleteFor events were you would write after (births, deaths, etc.) I would try to get your letter/card out with in 2 weeks after the event.