Samuel Peter D’Costa wanted to know how the Queen was doing when the pandemic hit, so he wrote her a letter
DUBAI Not many people would have received a Royal Mail from Windsor Castle. But for those who have, it certainly is a day to remember. For Samuel Peter D’Costa, that day was February 4, 2021. And at that time, he was a wide-eyed eight-year-old holding the special mail — a response to a letter he had written to Queen Elizabeth II when the pandemic hit in 2020, a report in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, says.
“It was my idea…nobody suggested it to me. I love the United Kingdom and everything about it. I have been extremely fascinated by its history and particularly the Royal Family,” said the UAE resident, who is now 11 years old.
“I have read about the Queen and her children. In my letter I enquired about Her Majesty’s health as I had written the letter during the pandemic times,” D’Costa told Khaleej Times.
He also wrote that he wanted to eventually study and work in UK when he grows up.
“The Royal Family also has an interesting family tree. Although it’s a bit confusing for me as a child, it really excites me to learn more about them.”
The day he got the letter
D’Costa clearly remembers the moment he received the Royal reply, which was written by the Queen’s Lady-in- Waiting, Susan Hussey.
“Frankly, I hadn’t expected it. It was such a pleasant surprise,” said the Grade 6 student at Pearl Wisdom School, Dubai.
It reads: “The Queen wishes me to thank you very much for your letter. Her Majesty was pleased to hear that you and your family are keeping safe and well during the current situation.
“The Queen thought it’s kind of you to tell her about your interest in the United Kingdom, and your ambition to visit the country, and perhaps work here when you are a little older.
“I am to thank you once gain for writing to Her Majesty as you did and for sending you good wishes to The Queen at this time.”
D’Costa and his parents were all over the moon. “I also told some of my close friends and they were shocked to hear that I had received a response from the Windsor Castle,” the boy said.
Now that Queen Elizabeth had died, he plans to write another letter — this time to King Charles III.
“I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family on Her Majesty’s demise. I knew, eventually that this day would come, when the Queen was gone. But she lives in our hearts, as she was the longest reigning monarch and a much-loved Queen who had served her people for seven decades,” D’Costa told Khaleej Times.
The kid, who loves studying the diversity of human experience, cultures, ideas and traditions, dreams of becoming a historian.
*********************************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com