AN Embsay youngster can claim to have possibly the most famous pen friend in the world after receiving a letter from the Queen.

Five-year-old Lydia Midgley wrote to Her Majesty to offer her sympathy after the Queen Mother died.

Lydia, the youngest of four children, was moved by the sad story and told her parents, Andrew and Caroline, that she wanted to write to her.

Her dad said: "She was watching the television coverage of the Queen Mother's death on television and told us she wanted to send a letter.

"In her own words she wrote: 'Dear Queen, sorry your mum is dead. Love Lydia.' Then she wrote in very small words, right at the top of an envelope: The Queen, Buckingham Palace, London.

"It's just the sort of thing you would imagine Lydia doing."

Some time later Lydia received a reply from Her Majesty's lady-in -waiting saying the Queen was interested to hear from her and thanking her for writing.

The reply has now been framed and takes pride of place on the family mantlepiece.