‘Just unbelievably touching’: Kitchener, Ont. girl receives response letter from Buckingham Palace on behalf of King Charles

CTV’s Karis Mapp discovers how curiosity led to a little royal attention for a Kitchener, Ont. girl.

A young artist from Kitchener received the surprise of a lifetime after sending a drawing for King Charles III to Buckingham Palace.

Grace Connell is only five-years-old, but loves art and often draws whatever comes to mind.

“She got interested in the King and Queen and we Googled where they live, that they were real [people] and how old they were,” explained Grace’s mother Susan Connell.

After learning all about the Royal Family, Grace decided to draw them a picture.

“When I went to school the next day, my friend was there, and I drew something with her,” said Grace.

Susan said it was a drawing of the Royal Family.

Hoping to encourage Grace’s excitement, Susan did the necessary work to send the drawing overseas to England.

“I honestly didn’t think we’d get anything back. So, I just addressed [the envelope] to Buckingham Palace, put six stamps on it and sent it with [Grace’s] home address,” Susan recalled.

After sending the drawing at the end of February, Grace would rush to the mailbox every week in hopes of a response.

“After a few weeks, I thought maybe I should use ChatGPT or something to draw up a letter and mail it to her,” Susan said.

She drafted a faux letter and was prepared to send it, but on the Sunday of Easter weekend, something unexpected happened.

“She had asked to check the mail one more time, which reminded me I hadn’t sent the letter,” said Susan. “We went to the mailbox with my nephew, and sure enough, there was a letter from the King, their correspondence, Buckingham Palace, addressed to Grace.”

The personalized response came from James Dawson, the head of royal correspondence for the Royal Family.

“The King has asked me to thank you for your splendid drawing,” the letter dated April 2 reads. “His Majesty greatly appreciates the tremendous care you have taken to create your lovely artwork, and was touched by your kind thought in sending it to the Royal Family.”

Meanwhile Grace, along with everyone else in her family, was shocked.

“[The letter] was just unbelievably touching for her and for us,” said Susan. “If you put your mind to something, anything can happen.”

Grace said she is going to continue to make drawings for people and one day hopes to visit England and see Buckingham Palace and King Charles III in person.