An eight-year-old schoolboy enjoyed a royal treat recently with the delivery of a letter from the Queen.

Charlie Hicks, a Year 3 pupil at King Alfred School, was elated to find post from Buckingham Palace waiting for him when he arrived at the school, in North End Road, Golders Green, on June 3.

The schoolboy had written to the Queen weeks earlier to tell her he really loved his school and his teacher Sheila.

He also noted in his letter that Her Majesty was doing a “good job running the country”.

In response, one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting wrote back to Charlie, telling him: “The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your recent letter in which you tell Her Majesty about yourself and your school.

“The Queen thought it was kind of you to tell her about your teacher, Sheila.”

Reacting to the letter, Charlie said: “I felt excited waiting and more excited when it came. And maybe a bit embarrassed!”