A ROYAL letter of thanks has been received by Padiham mum-of-two Barbara Sullivan in response to her words of sympathy for Diana's family.

Mrs Sullivan, of Ingham Street, said: "I was really upset at the Princess of Wales death because she was so young. She was a lovely lady and did everything for children and charities.

"I wrote to the young princes to say how sorry I felt for them and their family and that they should always remember their mother. I knew how they felt because I lost my father to cancer three years ago."

The letter from Stephen Lamport, private secretary to Prince Charles, says: "I am writing on behalf of The Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry to thank you most warmly for your kind letter of sympathy.

"Their Royal Highnesses have asked me to say how touched they were that you should have taken the trouble to write as you did.

"They greatly appreciated your kind and sympathetic thoughts."

Mrs Sullivan said: "I was really amazed when the letter came through the door because I never expected anything like that.

"They must have had thousands of people writing to them. I am going to get the letter framed."

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