Saturday, March 24, 2018

Zara Tindall - Pregnancy Reply (2018)

A reply arrived today from the UK.

Theis reply was quite a surprise. I was a bit confused when I saw the envelope. It was obviously from the UK, but it doesn't have the typical marking of a royal letter. It is just a simple envelope with a stamp of the Queen, a handwritten address, and nothing on the back. I wondered who it could be from.

Given that the letter isn't stamped with the Royal's PPI (Printed Postage Impression), I knew it couldn't be one of the Royal Households. The last time I received an envelope like this it was from a Foreign Royal living in the UK.


To my surprise, the reply is from Zara Tindall for the letter I sent her & Mike congratulating them on their pregnancy. When I wrote to them in January, I wasn't expecting a reply. I don't think I've ever seen a reply from Zara before. I wasn't even entirely sure Princess Anne's office passed on letters to her children. I have written to Zara twice before for her previous pregnancy announcement, and miscarriage.

The reply is a simple letter, written by Kate Bowen, Zara's Personal Assistant. The letter says:
Dear Gertrude 
Thank you for your letter to Mr and Mrs Tindall with your kind congratulations. They both were very touched by your letter.  
Yours sincerely,  
Kate Bowen  
PA to Zara Tindall

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Thursday, March 22, 2018

Prince Henrik Condolence Reply from Queen Margrethe of Denmark (2018)

A reply arrived from Denmark today, for the letter of Condolence I sent to Queen Margrethe for the passing of her husband. Prince Henrik was 83 years old when he passed away on February 13th after a period of illness.


The envelope is the typical one we see from Queen Margrethe & Prince Henrik.



The letter is the same format and style as Queen Margrethe & Prince Henrik's Birthday, Christmas, etc. replies I have received over the years. Except, this letter is on a smaller peice of paper.


The letter says: 
Dear Miss Gertrude Alexandra Daly, 
Her Majesty The Queen has asked me to send her  most sincere thank you for the kind Message of Condolence, which Her Majesty received on t the occasion of the death of Prince Henrik. 

Sincerely yours, 
Johnnie Korsholm
Aide-de-camp
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Monday, March 5, 2018

Queen & Prince Philip - Christmas Reply (2017)

Today I received a reply from the Queen, for the Christmas letter I sent her and Prince Philip. The reply is a basic form letter.

The Queen's office sends out a few different types of replies each year: A form letter like this; a form letter signed by a lady in waiting and personalized with the persons name; And a personalized letter from a lady in waiting with a personalized message. I've gotten all 3 different types over the years.


The letter reads: 
The Queen thanks you very much for the message you have sent for Christmas and the New Year and for your kind words. 

Following another year of special celebration for Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, and their family, your thoughtfulness in writing as you did at this time is greatly appreciated. 

February 2018

King Felipe of Spain - 50th Birthday (2018)

A lovely reply arrived today from Spain. I had written to King Felipe in January for his 50th Birthday. This is only the 2nd reply I've gotten from King Felipe over the years and the 1st letter. The letter is similar to those I received from King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia. 


Translated the letter reads:

Head of The House of HM the King

Palace of Zarzulea 
February 28th, 2018 

Ms. 
Gertrude Daly
(Address)

Head of The House of HM the King

With much pleasure, I on behalf of His Majesty the King convey to you, in his name, his sincere gratitude for the kind words of congratulations addressed to him on the occasion of this special birthday.

With kind regards, 

Jamie Alfonsín

At the bottom of the letter is a privacy statement, basically saying they are keeping your personal data on file. Translated the statement reads: 
  
In compliance with Organic Law 15/1999, you are informed that the personal data provided are included in the file "Protocol Information System (SIPROT)," the purpose of which is to carry out the functions of the protocol of this house. You expressly consent that such information may be transferred to the administrations and public institutions to which strictly enforces the successful completion of the procedures developed. You may exercise your right of access, reification, cancellation, and opposition before the General Secretary of the Household of His Majesty the King, Palace of Zarzulea,  28017 Madrid.

This is the first time I've seen a statement like this on the bottom of the letter. Although I know a lot of the Royal Houses have databases when they keep some information about the people who wrote. (And they have a privacy statement on their official website.)

The Cambridges - Christmas Reply (2017)

Today, I received a letter from the UK, for the Christmas letter I sent the Cambridges. The Cambridges replied with a letter, written by Claudia Spens, head of the correspondence section at Clarence House. 


The letter reads: 
Dear Miss Daly,  
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked me to thank you for your letter of 5th December. I apologise for the delay in replying to you. We have been overwhelmed by the thousands of letters and cards received recently.  
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 in respect of the work they do.  
It was kind of you to send The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a message at Christmas and they have asked me to send you their warmest good wishes for the New Year.  
Yours Sincerely, Claudia Spens
While I always love getting a personal letter, I would have loved to get their Christmas photo card.

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Sunday, February 25, 2018

Prince Harry & Meghan Markle - Christmas/ Engagement Reply (2017)

A reply arrived over the weekend from the UK. It's from Prince Harry & Meghan Markle thanking me for my Christmas and Engagement letters. It's a pretty exciting and special reply, as this is the first reply I've gotten from Meghan and is for such an important milestone in the young couple's life.

The reply is actually in response to two letters that I wrote. One to Prince Harry which I wrote on November 26th wishing him a very Merry Christmas and New Years. And then a letter I wrote the next day, when Surprise!!!, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle announced their engagement.

The reply came in 3 parts: a letter and two photo cards.

The letter is from Claudia Spens, thanking me for my two letters. Claudia Spens is Head of the Correspondence Section at Clarence House. I think it is really cool that despite the thousands of letters Clarence House has received over the last few months for Harry's Engagement, Christmas, Charles and Kate's Birthday, etc. that they were able to figure out I wrote two letters to Harry and sent one lovely reply for both. This is the first time I've received 1 reply for 2 letters.


The letter says:
"Dear Miss Daly,  
Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have asked me to thank you for your letter of 26th November and 27th November, and for your very kind message sent at Christmas and very thoughtful message of congratulations. I sincerely apologise for the extensive delay in replying to your letters. We have been overwhelmed by the thousands of letters and cards received recently.  
His Royal Highness and Ms.  Markle are most grateful to you for taking the trouble to write as you did and much appreciated your kind words of support.  
It is a very happy time for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle, and indeed for us all, and your message of congratulations was much appreciated. 
His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle have asked me to send you the enclosed special cards along with their warmest thanks and very best wishes for the New Year.  
Yours Sincerely,
Claudia Spens" 

I think it is So Cute! that Claudia said in the letter that it's a happy time for Harry & Meghan "and indeed for us all." I'm sure the Royal Staff are just as excited about the engagement as we all are. It reminds me of when in a reply from the Queen, one of her Ladies-in-Waiting wrote, "the arrival of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge has given much pleasure to the whole Royal Family."

The first photo card is for Christmas. The front of the card features the couple in Nottingham, on their first official engagement together a few days after the announcement.


The message is slightly different from past years, and obvious Meghan has been added to the message. It's exciting that from now on we will be writing to the couple for Christmas, not just Harry. And hopefully, over the next few years, we will be seeing some more additions to the family. 


The message reads:
"Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful Christmas message. 
His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle send you their warmest thanks and with very best wishes for a Happy New Year." 
This Christmas Reply is extra special as it will be the only one that says "Prince Harry & Ms. Meghan Markle," as future Christmas replies will use their new title. 

The 2nd card is for the couple's engagement. The front features the couple during their engagement photocall in the garden at Kensington Palace. 



The back features a lovely message from the couple.


The message reads:
"Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle were incredibly touched that you took the trouble to write as you did in connection with their forthcoming Wedding.  
It really was most thoughtful of you and greatly appreciated. His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle send you their warmest thanks and very best wishes." 
The envelope is the usual from the British Royals, but it was a little extra thick this time. This was the first time I've gotten a letter and two cards in a reply.



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Thursday, February 22, 2018

Queen Mathilde of Belgium - Birthday Reply (2018)

 A lovely reply arrived today from Belgium. I had written to Queen Mathilde last month for her 45th Birthday.


The reply is the typical for the Queen Mathilde's birthday, a photo and flat card.

The photo is new, they released it on her birthday. Based on the green windows, it looks like it was taken at Royal Greenhouses in Laeken. Princess Elisabeth's birthday photo from last year was also shot there, so it was likely done at the same time.


It's a very lovely photo. I will note that it looks like Queen Mathilde is wearing the same dress as the photo from last year's reply. But since this photo is head and shoulders and the other is waist up, the two photos don't look exactly alike.

With the photo is a premade card. They change the message up each year.



The message is in French. Translated it reads:

Palace of Brussels

Her Majesty The Queen thanks you wholeheartedly for the warm wishes you sent her on the occasion of her birthday. 

The Queen greatly appreciates this delicate attention.