A YOUNGSTER has had a reply from Buckingham Palace after she sent a message of condolence over the death of the Queen Mother.

Kennedy Waugh, aged six, from York, decided to write to the Queen to say how sorry she was. She wrote: "I am so sorry you have lost your mummy. This must be a really sad time for you."

Kennedy's mother Karen posted the letter and then almost forgot about it.

But now Kennedy has had a reply, telling her how much the Queen was comforted by such messages of sympathy.

The letter, signed by Lady in Waiting Jennifer Gordon Lennox, said: "The Queen wishes me to write and thank you so much for your message of sympathy on the death of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

"Her Majesty thought it was very kind of you to write to her, and I am to tell you that messages such as yours have been a great comfort to the Queen. I am to thank you again for writing to Her Majesty at this sad time."

Karen said: "Kennedy was absolutely over the moon. She couldn't believe it. She has taken it to her school, St Wilfrid's Roman Catholic Primary in Monkgate, to show her teacher and friends in her class. "I think it's brilliant, because I wasn't even certain it would get to the Queen, let alone get a reply.

"Kennedy just wrote her letter off her own back. It's typical of her, she is just so kind-hearted."