April/May 2018 Q&A

As always, post your Royal Questions & I will get to them as soon as possible.

For all your Royal baby Questions please see our Special Royal Baby Q&A

Question 1: Would it be appropriate to send a letter to Prince Philip for his surgery?

Answer: Yes, it is very appropriate to send a letter or card wishing someone a speedy recovery after a surgery and letting them know that they are in your thoughts and prayers. I think people really enjoy the show of concern and love during what can be a difficult time.

Question 2: Did Kate and Will send out wedding thank yous? What did they look like? 

Answer: I didn't start writing to the Royals until Prince George's 1st birthday, so I don't have a reply from their wedding. But I have seen a copy, it was the usual postcard-size photo reply, a picture from their wedding, with a message on the back.

And I would expect the same with Harry & Meghan's wedding.

Question 3: I am a U.S. citizen, who went to college in England and have spent a large chunk of my adult life there. I am fascinated with the royals and have written to them before, however, I don’t know if a letter I have in mind is appropriate. Here in the U.S. our government has a system with the presidents that if you get married, or in my case have a child, you can write the president and get a signed congratulations back. I had my first child about 6 months ago, and I have received a signed letter from our current president and all living past presidents and Pope Francis. I know the Royals do not sign anything, however, I was wondering if it would be appropriate if when writing to Kate congratulating her on the birth of her child, if it would be appropriate to mention my own child’s birth? Also, if I did mention it, would they acknowledge it? I will send her a letter regardless the on day. 

Answer: The British Royals do have a program where people can get a signed birthday or anniversary message from the Queen. But sadly it is only open to British & Commonwealth Citizens & only for certain milestones:

Birthdays: 100, 105, 106, 107, 108, etc.
Anniversaries: 60th, 65th, 70th, 71st, 72nd, etc.

And that's all they do. They get too much mail to send personal messages for other occasions no matter how nicely you ask.

But as to writing to Kate, it would be very appropriate to mention in your letter that you had a child yourself 6 months ago. Will you get a reply from Kate? no. You will just get the postcard-sized photo with pre-made message they send to everyone.

Question 4: I would like to know how and where you preserve the answers on?

Answer: We went into this in our March Q&A, see Question #6

Question 5:  If you write to the Royals do you ever send a card or do you only write Letters? 

Answer: I usually write a letter. On a rare occasion, I might send a card. I think the last card I sent was for the Queen & Prince Philip's 70th Wedding Anniversary. I made up a card with my photo on the front that was similar to the ones the Queen sends out for people's 70th Wedding Anniversary.

Question 6:  Hi! Was wondering why the commentators on wedding day referred to Peter Phillips as "The Queen's favorite grandson."I find it hard to believe she would have a favorite, much less say so.

Answer: The Queen has never said anything about having a favorite anything, and I doubt she has one. This is just speculation & in fact, there are different stories that call different royals her favorite. It's just a way for the media to denote, the close relationship with that particular royals.

Question 7a:  Do you write to the Royals for every event? Or just write to your favorite Royals. Does it annoy you when you haven't written and see a great reply on Instagram? 

Answer: I don't write for every event. I have a calendar with Royal Birthday, I probably don't even write for half of those. & there are many many other royals who didn't even make it onto that calendar since I try to keep the list under 110 people.

I have my favorite royals who I write to every year for their birthday. Then for the other more important royals I will write if it's a milestone birthday.

I write if it's a milestone Wedding Anniversary. For Christmas, I usually just write to the important British royals, European monarchs, and then a few of my favorites.

I could write a lot more often to a lot more people, but I just don't have the time, interest or patience.

I do definitely get jealous when I see a great reply on social media that I didn't get. It especially hurts when I wrote as well and didn't get a reply, or it was one of those royals I thought wasn't going to reply, so I didn't bother writing.

Question 7b: as an example: Do you write for all the Birthdays of the family of Princess Madeleine, to the trooping the colour for the Queen or to different Events in other Royal Families.

What I write for definitely varies from Royal family to family, based on who's my favourites and how likely they are to respond. For the Swedish Royal Family, given that they very rarely reply, I don't normally write for birthdays at all, unless it is a milestone birthday.

I don't write for Trooping the Colours (AKA the Queen's Offical Birthday), instead, I send my birthday letter for the Queen in April, for her actual birthday.

Question 8:  Will you cover other European Royal families? Like the Norwegian?

Answer: I do already cover the other European royal families somewhat. Mostly for their big stuff.