In a sweet story that’s bringing smiles across generations, a little girl from Kentucky has made a royal connection, without even leaving her front porch.
It all began when Jalayne’s mom, Katelyn Sutherland, had a sweet and simple idea.
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“She loves walking the dogs around like she’s in a parade,” Katelyn told CNN. “And I always joke that she walks with this quiet authority. One day, I looked at her and said—she looks like the Queen!”
That year for Halloween, Jalayne wore a light blue coat and matching hat, white gloves, a strand of pearls, and a soft white wig.
To complete the look, she walked alongside the family’s two corgis, just like Queen Elizabeth II so famously did for decades.
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“It felt perfect,” Katelyn shared. “She even had the serious little wave down.”
Katelyn snapped a few photos of her daughter in costume, standing on their front steps—proud, confident, and surrounded by her corgi companions.
She later posted the pictures on Facebook to share the moment with friends and family.
“I just thought it was cute,” she said. “People were loving it. Everyone kept saying she looked just like the Queen.”
But Katelyn didn’t stop there.
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Something told her this moment was worth sharing a little further.
So she printed the photo, wrote a short letter, and mailed it to Buckingham Palace.
“I didn’t expect a reply,” she admitted. “It just felt like something kind to do. Maybe someone there would smile.”
Weeks went by.
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Then one day on December 27, something special arrived in their mailbox.
“It was addressed from Windsor Castle,” Katelyn said. “I honestly thought it was going to be a generic thank you. But it was personal. I was shocked.”
The envelope contained a letter from Lady Mary Morrison, a Lady-in-Waiting to Her Majesty the Queen.
“The Queen wishes me to write and thank you for your letter, and for the photograph you enclosed,” the letter read. “Her Majesty thought it kind of you to write to her, and The Queen was pleased to see the photograph of your daughter, Jalayne, in her splendid outfit.”
The letter also included a note about the Queen’s well-known love for corgis, making the response feel even more personal.
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“It really meant something to us,” Katelyn said. “To know that someone took the time to respond so kindly—it was more than we expected.”
Jalayne, who’s still too young to fully grasp the moment, kept pointing at the Queen’s photo and saying, “That’s me!”
Katelyn laughed, “I think she really believed she was the Queen.”
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“It reminded me,” Katelyn said, “that even in big palaces, people still stop to notice the little things. A child’s smile. A thoughtful letter. A Halloween costume.”
In many ways, the story speaks to something deeper.
In an age of fast news and quick distractions, this gentle exchange reminds us of the power of connection. A mom. A daughter. A photograph. A Queen.
And while Jalayne may outgrow her tiny blue coat and the curls of her Queen wig, she’ll always have a story to tell—that once, when she was two, she dressed as the Queen… and the Queen noticed.
Have a story like this? Email us at hello@nostalgicgrandma.com and share a moment that reminded you the world still has good in it.
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Disclaimer: We came across this lovely story reported by CNN and couldn’t resist sharing it with our readers. All credits go to the original reporters and the wonderful family involved. Our intention is only to spread smiles and remind you that kind, surprising moments still happen in the world.
Find inspirational and relatable stories—only at NostalgicGrandma. These stories exist to make you feel seen and remind you that you’re not alone.
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