Runners Up

If the Queen’s Crown Could Talk

 

The story starts in the summer of 1953 when I first met Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on the day she was to be crowned Queen. I was sitting patiently on the padded velvet cushion in Westminster Abbey, waiting for the unforgettable moment when I got placed on the new Queen’s head.

The Abbey was bustling full with people dressed in beautiful, fancy clothes. I could hear the singing of the choir as I was anticipating the moment the young Princess arrived. Then I saw the lovely princess walk towards me towards her throne. The ladies in waiting dressed her in her Velvet Robes ready for me to be placed gently on her head to complete the outfit! My time had arrived I hoped I was looking my best and my rubies were shing bright. Next thing I knew the Archbishop of Canterbury lifted my cushion near to her before lifting me high above the princess’s head. I was ecstatic when he lowered me down onto the Queens head and everyone shouted long live the Queen. Then the triumphant music started to echo round the abbey.

When I think back to that day I as I relax in my secure gleaming glass in the Tower of London I think of what has changed since then. I was lucky enough to see the bright colours filling the abbey that day in the throne, gowns and even my glimmering gem stones which covered me with colour. But many of the 27 million people in the UK and even more round the world who watched on TV could only see the coronation in black and white because coloured TV was still new. What a pity as the colours were the best part of the day.

As I left the Abbey with the Queen in her golden horse drawn carriage I could see that the transport was different from how it is now. The roads were quieter in 1953 because there were less cars. The cars also looked very different from now. In 1953 the cars were smaller with chrome bumpers and lights and black and white number plates. Todays cars are way more modern and have much more technology like heated seats and screens. They are built using materials like carbon fibre and plastic. Today we have electric cars and in 1953 they didn’t exist.

A lot has changed since 1953 although I haven’t! Even the 18 year old new Queen herself who is now in her 90s. When I see her on visits to the tower I still recognise her and hope she still remembers when we met on the day of her coronation.

Emily, 9

A letter to my Lillibet

 

It was 7:30 am on a bright summers morning on June 4th 2022, the Queen’s wake up time. She walked towards the terrace in her bedroom, where she can hear the sound of bagpipes. This traditional wake up call only happened on special occasions. The Queen carried out her morning routine, by enjoying her cup of Darjeeling tea. As the Queen relaxed, to her amazement next to her pot of tea, there was a hand written envelope addressed to ‘To my dearest Lilibet’. She picked up the letter nervously because she knew all the people that call her Lilibet had passed away. She opened the envelope very carefully and she looked inside. A perfectly folded letterhand written was in there. “Oh my!” she said as she knew the hand writing looked familiar. This letter was written by her father, but how could that be possible? She rang her bell and in came her butler. The Queen asked “Have you any idea where this letter came from?” “I don’t know your Majesty. No one has been in this room and it wasn’t there when I left.” The Queen replied “That will be all” and asked him to leave. As the butler closed the door behind him, the Queen eagerly opened the letter.

“My dearest Lilibet,

I knew you would make me proud. From the little girl who used to come on long walks with me you have become the longest reigning monarch in history and what a Queen you have been. You were the most perfect daughter, as I used to say, you are my pride and Margaret is my joy. You have kept our family close and committed to our role. From the age of 25, since you took over the crown, you have achieved so much. Firstly from abolishing the law on male heir offspring, a perfect decision. You have appeared on coinage of at least 35 different countries. Your commitment to the Commonwealth over the past 70 years is brilliant. However, as you father, I want to let you know how proud I am of how you have lead our family. In amongst all your duties as our Queen, you have been a wonderful wife to Phiilip, a loving mother and grandmother.

You are a very well recognised and respected woman in the world. My words will never be able to express my love and respect for you. You truly are my pride and you are also the pride of our nation.

My last words to you my dearest Lilibet, ‘long live the Queen’!”

Your Papa x

Yuvraj Waghela

The Queen's Corgis

 

The day before the Queen’s Jubilee, the corgis were in their corgi room practicing. Now, dear reader, you may be wondering what they were practicing. I will tell you. Magic. The Queen’s corgis were magical. Candy had the power of hypnotism and flight. Vulcan had supernatural powers and the speed of light. 

They fought Revar who was an invisible man and wanted to capture the Queen but only Candy and Vulcan could see him. 

Vulcan was a dark brown corgi with a hidden blonde lightning bolt streak in his fur. Candy was blonde with a hidden, nearly white cloud on the back deep within her fur. Revar still wanted the queen for he had not caught her yet and was still out in the world.

Now, the day before the Jubilee, the corgis were in their corgi room, (as said before). The corgi room had white walls, one of which was patterned with swirls and had a green carpet. There were many toys and Vulcan was in a great, yellow wheel in the corner, which was spinning so fast it looked like it would pop out!

The corgis were about to go to bed for the next day was a big day. The next day, the corgis got up early so that they could get groomed. Later that day, the corgis were groomed, fed and were wearing gold and blue bows and their ears had been sprinkled with glitter. Candy and Vulcan were about to step out onto the balcony when they saw someone, Revar!

Quickly, Candy hypnotised everyone including Revar and the Queen and dragged Revar into their massive corgi room. Candy and Vulcan knew that Revar could get out of hypnotism so they locked the door speedily. 

Once Revar had awoken, Candy and Vulcan were ready. They had opened a secret room using their paw print and shoved Revar inside of it. The room was made of metal and the base was laid with dirt. Why you ask? You are about to find out. 

Vulcan ran around Revar sending dirt flying in a kind of controlled whirl wind. This blinded Revar and Candy flew around the whirl wind helping it stay aloft whilst Vulcan made clicking noises with his snout. 

Suddenly, birds came flying into the room through little holes that appeared in the walls. Many of the birds were birds of prey but a few were blue birds. 

Anyway, the birds started to come and peck pieces of skin until, finally, Revar was dead. 

Vulcan and Candy then went out onto the balcony and Candy awoke everyone and the exciting jubilee went on. Candy and Vulcan ate all they wanted and ran around the palace grounds as more and more guests entered the breath-taking garden. 

Soon, they fell asleep, back in their corgi room listening to the sounds of fireworks, crowds and cheers. They knew that life would never be the same again for they had finally, after many attempts, defeated their enemy Revar and the Queen would now be safe.

Isobel

Corgi Kidnap

 

It was the day before her coronation and the future Queen was running through the details of how the special day would go. Nothing could go wrong. Her Majesty’s ladies in waiting practised using a sheet for her gown and chairs for the golden carriage. Up in one of the royal bedrooms, Susan - Elizabeth’s corgi - was lying asleep in a king-sized dog bed, her ear flopping down over her bead-like eye, peacefully dreaming about the bird she had caught today.

At eleven, the changing of the guards took place. Every guard was on high alert and security was extremely tight, so surely no one could just slip by? A tall, thin man wearing a bearskin cap and a smart, red suit – just like the rest- sneaked out of the steady, uniform lines, down into one of the archways and through the vast courtyard. He smoothly scaled the wall until he reached the window he was looking for. This man was a well-known dognapper- maybe even the most wanted of them all. Well today was his big challenge. Operation Corgi.

Back in the palace, everyone was preparing for dinner when a loud bark sounded from the Corgi’s room. One of the servants hurried upstairs, only to find an empty room and muddy foot prints ending at the large window. Almost everyone searched all over for the corgi but no one found anything: no one dared to tell the Queen. Elizabeth went peacefully to bed, unsuspecting that her darling corgi had been taken.

On the day of the coronation everyone was buzzing with nerves and excitement. Nearly ready, the Queen called for her corgi- but there was no reply. She asked one of her servants to call upon a footman to find Susan. She knew that the Queen needed to know the truth: that no one had seen her dog since yesterday. Elizabeth had no time to worry as she was whisked away to be seated in her gold-plated carriage. As they navigated through the packed streets, the rejoicing crowds distracted her from the missing dog.

Susan woke up to a loud mixture of colour and noise, though it was blurred by a brown, stuffy bag she seemed to be travelling in. She sniffed and caught a scent of a familiar smell through all the others. Using her teeth, Susan picked through the coarse material and bounded out of the sack, causing many cries of surprise. An ear up and her nose down, Susan navigated through the crowd.

Suddenly, Elizabeth heard a familiar sound through the cheers. The Queen looked down to the cobbled road to see Susan galloping towards her on her stubby little legs, a slight bounce to her step and her ears pricked up. Elizabeth opened her arms and the corgi leapt up into her loving hold. Susan sat on the plump velvet cushions, her tongue lapping out as if she had never disappeared at all. The Queen smiled. Her coronation would be perfect.

Harriet Hodges, 11