Connie’s royal mail for bravery badge

A schoolgirl from Ashford has received royal appreciation for her idea to award brave children.

Connie Roberts-McNeil, nine, sent the Queen a letter for her 90th birthday along with her design for a remembrance badge.

She never expected to get a reply and was overwhelmed when she discovered the letter from the Queen dropped through her letter box.

The response was from the lady-in-waiting on behalf of the Queen, who apologised for the late reply.

Connie said: “She made a really nice letter and it was really thoughtful. I didn’t think that they would reply.”

Connie’s idea for the remembrance badge has been in the pipeline for some time. After learning about the world wars at school and her great-grandfathers who fought in the D-Day landings, she designed the badge to recognise the bravery of children who had lost close family members in wars. Connie with her badge designed for brave children

The badge is in the shape of a heart, with illustrations of poppies, a dove to symbolise peace and a multi-coloured helmet highlighting branches of the Armed Forces.

Connie said: “I felt bad for those countries that are having war and I thought we could make something for our country to support them or people in the family that have had an actual fight or lost a dad, mum, brother or sister.

“It would make them feel like a hero to them so they wouldn’t feel like they died for no reason.” Connie said she felt for children at her school

who had come from different countries and lost family members through war, explaining: “One time, the dad didn’t come back and that just made me feel a bit sad for that person.”

Although the Queen appreciated Connie’s idea, the letter said the badge could not be made as asked.

However, this has only made Connie more determined to make the badge a reality. She said: “She (the Queen) said that they couldn’t do what I asked, but I think that maybe I have a better chance of doing it with Prime Minister Theresa May and Prince Harry.

“I think I have a really good shot because Prince Harry’s in the Army himself.”

Connie RobertsMcNeil with her surprise letter and the card, below left, that she received