Pensioner who sent her portrait of The Queen to Buckingham Palace gets royal thank you letter

Pamela Shepherd, 77, of The Meadway, Maldon, developed an interest in colouring and drawings when she retired, and decided to design a portrait of the Queen.

A couple of months ago, Pamela and her husband Kenneth sent the portrait to Buckingham Palace for the Queen to view.

They were surprised to receive a letter of thanks in return in August from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the Scottish home of the Royal Family.

The letter, from Lady-in-Waiting Annabel Whitehead, read: “The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for the portrait you have coloured so carefully for Her Majesty.

“The Queen greatly appreciated the kindness of both of you and your husband Mr Kenneth Shepherd, in wishing to send this picture to Her Majesty.”

The letter has delighted both Pamela and Kenneth, as Pamela has been a long admirer of the Queen and the Royal Family.

Pamela originally came from Goldhanger, and has lived within the Maldon district all her life, previously working for the Maldon Crystal Salt Company before retiring.

She has three children, two of whom live in Essex.

She suffers from Alzheimer’s, and now spends three days a week with the staff of Action for Family Carers at Brickhouse Farm in Maldon, to allow Kenneth a rest from her full-time care.

He said: “Pam has always been a devoted royalist for most of her life and following them through the generations.

“Whilst I’m not as big a supporter, it’s wonderful to see that her lovely work was recognised by the Queen herself.

“The portrait itself was one of a kind, she’s developed a really good sense of how to use vibrant colours to match the realistic ones of the everyday person’s features, and it’s really striking.”

Kenneth added: “It’s really something to be proud of to be acknowldged and thanked by the Royal Family.

“Many people can do a lot of work and not get a single mention, it was very nice of them to write a personal thank you letter.”