A LETTER to Ethan Browne caused a stir at Bicester’s sorting office when it arrived from Buckingham Palace.

The 12-year-old wrote to the Queen months after he had visited Clarence House in December, with Helen and Douglas House hospice in East Oxford.

He was intrigued by the portraits of the Queen’s horses, pictures of her Corgis and ornaments of animals, and then decided to write a note to ask the Queen for more information.

Ethan, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition which causes muscle weakness, and is confined to a wheelchair, asked the Head of State about her dogs and horses and also enclosed a photograph of himself taken on a horse at a Riding for the Disabled school, in Silverstone, Northamptonshire.

Mum Amanda, 46, of Market End Way, Bicester, said: “I never thought she would respond — I don’t think he realised how exciting it was.

“Even the postman knocked on the door — he said ‘we have got a letter from the Queen’ apparently it was a talking point at the sorting office.

Marlborough School pupil Ethan, who has a pet dog called Alfie, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, said: “It was quite a surprise (to get the letter).”

Oxford Mail:

In the letter, above, written on behalf of the Queen by her lady in waiting, she thanked Ethan for his letter, explained that the Queen Mother had also loved Corgi dogs and that was why the Queen had them.

She also told Ethan the Queen liked horses, and said she enjoyed the photograph Ethan had sent of him riding a horse.

Ethan was one of 12 children and young adults cared for at Helen and Douglas House hospice who helped decorate the Royal Christmas tree in the library at Clarence House.

They were invited to meet and have lunch with Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, who is the patron of the Magdalen Road hospice.