BUCKINGHAM PALACE has begun sending out thank you letters to those who met Queen Elizabeth during her visit to the Republic last month.
A palace spokesman said it was normal practice for the Queen’s staff to send letters of thanks to people she met on visits and to the organisers of events. The palace treated such correspondence as private but it was “entirely appropriate” for recipients to disclose their contents, if they so decided.
It is understood the Queen’s private staff have written a letter of thanks to President Mary McAleese, but Áras an Uachtaráin will not be publishing this correspondence.
Trinity College Dublin confirmed yesterday its provost had received letters of thanks from the Queen and the British ambassador following her visit to the college.
The Queen’s deputy private secretary, Edward Young, has written to Cork’s Lord Mayor, Michael O’Connell, to express thanks for the welcome she received. “Please could you tell the people of Cork that the warmth of their welcome was deeply moving and greatly appreciated,” Mr Young wrote.
The Queen described her visit to Cork as “particularly memorable” and extended her thanks for the gifts she received.
