THE Queen made a little girl from Christchurch’s day by taking a letter from her at the New Forest Show .

She broke with royal protocol to accept Matilda Rigby’s handwritten letter straight from the crowd.

Matilda’s mum Zoe Rigby, from Mus-cliffe, says the seven-year-old was overwhelmed at getting to meet the Queen.

The family had visited the show for the first time on Tuesday and then returned on Wednesday when they heard about the royal visit.

Zoe, of Rownhams Road, said: “Matilda wrote the letter while we were waiting for the Queen to come around.

“A policeman told us to give it to one of her cadets to pass on but the Queen turned around and saw us.”

In her letter, only child Matilda thanked the Queen for looking after the country with love, kindness and respect.

She also wrote that she had had a really nice time at the New Forest Show , and was really glad Her Majesty was our Queen.

The Muscliffe Primary School pupil went shy as the Queen said thank you for the letter but has been telling everybody about it since, Zoe said.

Matilda’s proud moment came just after the Queen had planted a tree on the final day of her International Diamond Jubilee tour.

“The Queen said ‘Is this for me’? Matilda said ‘Yes’ and gave it to her,” she added.

“I was trying to film it but Matilda got a little bit embarrassed and a little bit shy and came quickly back to me.”

The Queen, dressed in a peach, blue and white silk dress with a peach overcoat and peach hat, was shown round by Alan Titchmarsh.

After lunch another Christchurch child, 13-year-old George Payne, handed her a posy of flowers.