Meet little Ellyn (8) ... Coleraine's very own royal correspondent

Not many people can say they have received a personal letter from a member of the Royal Family - but Castleroe Primary School pupil Ellyn already has three to her name.

The eight-year-old began the correspondence a few years ago, and so far has received replies from Prince William and Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

Mum Lyn Ritchie explained: “Ellyn absolutely loves the royal family, so a few years ago she decided to send William and Kate a letter. It was November of 2015, so she drew a lovely picture of poppies for the month of remembrance.

“Then, to our amazement in February 2016 she received a lovely hand-drawn, personal letter, addressed ‘Dear Ellyn’. We hadn’t expected a reply, so she was absolutely over the moon, especially because it included a beautiful picture of baby Charlotte and George which Ellyn absolutely adored.”

Lyn said that her daughter’s fascination with the Royal Family had started from an early age.

“She grew up surrounded by a love of the Royal Family as her dad and granny are such big fans, they would always watch DVDs and shows together about them.

“In fact my dad Graham, who was quite famous years ago for his caricatures, once sent a drawing to Prince Charles and got a wonderful reply telling him that the prince had loved it so much, he had put it up in his bathroom in the palace!”

Following her initial success with Prince William and Kate, Ellyn, whose favourite subject at school is English, decided to write again.

“The following November, after being so pleased with her reply from the the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Ellyn sent Prince Charles a card for his birthday. It was funny becauses she knew it took place just a week before her dad’s birthday.” Lyn added.

“Ellyn was delighted when she got a lovely picture back in the post, along with a personal note from the prince.”