#MicroblogMondays 158: Haste, Post, Haste
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There was a cute story in the news this past weekend about a little girl who wrote the Queen because she wanted a pet swan and she thought the Queen owned all the swans.
I showed it to the ChickieNob because she writes a blog about royal news, but she was royally miffed. I think it secretly had something to do with the fact that she never got her pet clam, but the rest of it was because the ChickieNob sent a letter to the queen and got no response. She did not want to hear about a little girl who got a letter from Buckingham Palace when she had been checking the mailbox for weeks since sending her own at the beginning of the summer.
When she first wrote the letter, we explained to her that it was highly unlikely that she would receive a letter back, though the ChickieNob couldn’t fathom how the Queen wouldn’t respond once she saw the evidence of the ChickieNob’s deep and abiding love. We told her it was worth writing, but you need to send these sorts of things without any expectation of an answer.
Have you ever received a response from a public figure?
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19 comments
Well, I was kind of excited when I commented on a Yoga with Adriene you tube post and she replied 🙂 Actually, that is strangely on point with my blog post today
My boat-mate in Paris sent an invitation to the Queen to our boat-warming party, and one of her ladies in waiting sent us a polite rejection.
I think I have never written to one though it would be great if public figures reply to kids atleast.
Don’t give up hope on your daughter receiving a reply – from what I’ve heard, usually (as long as there is a correct – and understandable/legible) home address, letters from children to the Queen are taken care of by her staff.
I’ve never written to a public person although I did sign a book of condolence at the time of Princess Diana’s death. They were all forwarded to Prince Charles in London.~ Cathy
I love that the little girl thought the Queen owned all swans!! So cute. I’ve never really written to a public figure… I think my Grandma and Grandfather got a telegram from the Queen for their 70th wedding anniversary! (It was a long time ago… so I’m a bit vague about it).
I don’t think I’ve written to a public figure, other than maybe a Congressperson, and any reply I received then would have been a formality. I do hope the ChickieNob gets a reply eventually. That would certainly be something for her to blog about!
The Queen hasn’t been at Buckingham Palace all summer so I expect staff there are reduced so less chance of a speedy reply but generally all letters are responded to by members of the staff. Although maybe rebellious Yanks have to wait longer ….
This reminds me of when I was in high school and all my friends & I were drooling over Prince Andrew, who was just a little older than we were, attending a private school here in Canada, and attending the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton with his parents. 😉 My girlfriend wrote a letter to him at Buckingham Palace and asked if he wanted to be penpals (!) — and actually got a polite response from one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, some time later, advising that Prince Andrew was not allowed to correspond with people outside of his family, but thank you for your letter. 🙂 I think she had it framed. 😉
From what I’ve heard from anyone who’s ever received a response from Buckingham Palace, it takes quite a while, so don’t count Her Majesty out just yet. 😉
As for me, I’ve received a few responses from people in public life, although as someone noted above, they’ve often been form-type letters, no doubt signed by a machine. 😉 These days, I follow several authors on Facebook whose books I’ve enjoyed, and some have responded to my comments, which is always a big kick. 😉 The response from my growing up years that I remember best, and that meant the most to me, was from a woman named Dona Harvey, who was then the editor of the Winnipeg Tribune (a now-defunct newspaper, which we always got at home), and one of the few women at that level of the news business in those days. I asked for her advice on becoming a journalist, and she sent me back a lovely response, which I still have. 🙂
Not a big public figure but I got a letter from Beverly Cleary when I wrote to her at age 8. I still have it. Through work, I’ve met and dealt with many public figures some lovely, some not.
Your daughter writes a royal blog?! I want to be her when I grow up. How awesome. I bet her reply is coming. Who knows when swan girl sent her original letter.
I didn’t write it but I received a response. I am a die-hard, life long 49er football fan, and not long after I was diagnosed with this incurable nerve disease I have my parent wrote to the 49ers, specifically to their then backup QB who was playing at the time, Steve Bono, and explained what was going on (I was maybe 19 or 20?) The organization sent me a nice letter and Mr. Bono sent me an autographed picture. My mom needelpointed a frame in 49ers colors for it and I hung that for years. Flashforward 15 years and I was at a 49er’s alumni game and got to meet him in person and had him sign my sling while regaling my story to him. I’m sure he thought I was nuts but it was a big deal to me.
I’m sorry for the ChickieNob.
I can’t remember getting a response from a public figure. But recently I tagged an author in a FB post, saying I was reading and recommended her book (Everybody’s Son by Thrity Umrigar) and she responded there. Loved that. https://www.facebook.com/LavenderLuzWriter/posts/1380248085422755
Oh man, I don’t remember if I ever wrote a public figure. I feel like if I had and if I got a response, I would totally hang on to that sort of thing! I have thought about having my students write to someone and get responses, but I haven’t done it yet. Maybe we’ll write a favorite author and see if we get a note back! I could see being totally upset that someone else got a letter back and Chickie Nob didn’t, even if she knew the chances of a response were slim. I’ll be hoping for a delayed response!
Yep! From the President of the USA when I wrote requesting acknowledgement for my parents’ 50th anniversary. I didn’t expect a reply, but he sent a card and a letter with the official president’ seal.
That’s so cool about ChickieNob’s blog!! I’ll have to check it out. Sorry she hasn’t heard back from the Queen though. Seems like something that would’ve happened to me as a kid
When I was a kid, (and into my 20’s) I was so starry-eyed and I got some beautiful responses. I only wrote one letter and got one back, but I also met a few celebrities that were amazingly gracious. One being Carly Simon. I also wrote a piece last year for GrakNation and got a lovely note back from Mayim Bialik. It’s really nice that she sends thank you notes to writers.
Cute story – my younger sister wrote a letter to the Energizer Bunny (she was 8 maybe?) because her batteries died in a new toy she got for Christmas and she felt the Energizer Bunny should know her batteries did not keep going and going, as advertised. My parents didn’t believe she would get a response, but she did! The company sent a very nice letter back to her and even included a new pack of batteries! I think my mom still has the note but she wishes she had made a copy of the one my sister sent them, handwritten in blue crayon.
When I was 8 or 9 I wrote a letter to Ricky Schroder (you know, from Silver Spoons), but never sent it. 😀 And then I think I sent a letter to Anthony Kiedis…but if I actually sent it, I never got a reply. Years ago, I belonged to a chat board where Pam Johnson-Bennett (Cat Behavior Expert, Author) hosted and I got help from her with my cats. It was/is cool and changed what I knew about cats and helped us lots over the years.
That’s so sweet. I used to write letters to harry potter as kid thinking that he exists in real world. My mom was devastated with me at some point. Those were sweet memories indeed!