Queen Elizabeth II touched so many people’s lives in her family, her community, and all over the world. But one woman, Adele Hankey of North Dakota, had a special bond with the monarch, even though they never met in real life.
Adele and the queen were both born on April 21, 1926. The royal fan wrote the queen a letter when she was crowned in 1953, letting her know they shared a birthday. But while she never expected to receive a reply, that singular letter led to seven decades of correspondence.
The queen sent Adele a birthday card in return, and an unlikely, yet deeply meaningful, friendship began.
Year after year, the two exchanged handwritten letters on their birthdays. And it meant so much to Adele, who shared the stack of letters with local news outlets. She says she felt a special connection to the monarch throughout her entire reign.
She also told the outlet about the things she and the queen had in common, like their sense of humor and their love of orange marmalade.
For more on Adele and the queen’s special relationship, watch the video.
