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13th Apr 2016

A 12-year-old Irish boy wrote to the Queen asking for Northern Ireland back…and got a reply

Colm Boohig

This is brilliant.

Reese Kilbride, a 12-year-old from Dublin, wrote to Queen Elizabeth II asking for Northern Ireland back and even got a reply.

The young student was on Newstalk Breakfast explaining his desire to write to the Queen, after learning about the 1916 Easter Rising in school.

Speaking live on air, Reese said: “They had the six counties, they didn’t give back all of Ireland – so I thought they should give it back”.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 16: Queen Elizabeth II meets guests during a reception for the High Commissioners' Banquet to mark Commonwealth Week at the Guildhall on March 16, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anthony Devlin - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

After Reese’s mother warned her son not to expect a response from the Palace, the whole family was more than surprised to see this arrive in the post…

Queen letter

Miss Jennie Vine, the Deputy Correspondence Coordinator, replied on behalf of the Queen:

“There was a letter open on the counter and it looked (like) nice paper and…looked official and the next minute I saw the Buckingham Palace logo – and to be honest with you I found it quite hysterical”.

In the response, the palace says: “The Queen has asked me to thank you for your recent letter in which you wished to tell Her Majesty that you have been learning about the history of the Easter Rising 1916”.

“While it was thoughtful of you to let The Queen know of your views, I must explain that this is not a matter in which Her Majesty would intervene”.

“As a constitutional Sovereign, The Queen acts on the advice of her ministers and remains strictly non-political at all times”.

That’s pretty damn impressive all around.

To listen to the interview, click here.

Image via Newstalk.