A Manor Park Primary School pupil was shocked to receive a reply from the Queen after inviting her to an afternoon tea.

It was a pleasant surprise for Ruben O’Brien, aged seven, who opened a letter addressed to him from Windsor Castle.

The Year Two pupil had sent his letter in April while learning at home due to schools being closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The task of writing a letter to the Queen inviting her for tea and drawing a picture of Buckingham Palace was set by his teacher.

It was a challenge happily accepted by Ruben as he has always wanted to visit London and would like to see where the Monarch lives.

In a response to his letter, a lady-in-waiting thanked Ruben for his invite on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.

She wrote: ’The Queen much appreciates your kind thought for her at this time and I think you would like to know that, although her Majesty would like to be able to meet as many people who ask to see her, because of her very busy daily work schedule, it is not possible.’

She added that the Queen hopes that Ruben and his family ’are keeping safe and well during the current situation’.

Ruben’s mother, Claire McCabe, said: ’He was so happy but shocked to receive a letter back as he said so many people write to the Queen!’