The King has granted permission for seven-year-old William Brown, who tragically died earlier this month, to be buried in the “perfect” place.

William was killed on December 6 after being struck by a van along Sandgate Esplanade near Folkestone having gone to fetch his football.

Following his death, his parents revealed their wishes for him to be laid to rest at the Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, in Folkestone, near to his school and where he played regularly.

An order from the Privy Council from 1855 closed the churchyard to burials 168 years ago and that order has remained in place ever since.

But today, King Charles has granted permission for William to be laid to rest there.

A spokesperson for the Privy Council commented: “We are pleased that His Majesty The King, on the advice of his Privy Council, has granted permission in order to support the family in these tragic circumstances.

“The Brown family and the local community in Folkestone are in our thoughts at this difficult time.”

William Brown Sr told KentOnline it has given the family a “good lift” after they found out about the decision at 2pm today.

“It’s been quite emotional,” he said, “and we are honoured that the King would make this decision involving our son.

“Will would have loved this as he loved his history and being involved with something as big as the King making the decision.”

William’s mum Laura Brown said: “We feel extremely blessed that the King has given his consent.

“I feel it really is a miracle and we have nothing but gratitude towards the King and his peers.

“It is because of them we can finally lay our son to rest in a place he loved and adored."

The Privy Council is a formal body of advisers to the King and its members are mainly senior politicians. The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt is currently Lord President of the Council.

On December 25, William’s mum travelled four hours to Sandringham – where the Royal family attend a Christmas Day service – with a personal letter to the King to ask for his help.

The letter said: “Dear Your Majesty, My name is Laura Brown, the mother of William Brown who tragically died in a hit and run on December 6.

“We have been channelling all efforts into burying my son in the Church of St Eanswythe in Folkestone Kent, a place he attended and loved which is close to a graveyard.

“We have been granted a slither of hope that this is now possible, but all resides on the decision of the Privy Council and yourself.

“We have made the application to yourself and the Privy Council. We have been told it will take two Privy Council meetings consecutively and the Privy Council will not be meeting until February. That means I cannot bury my son (providing the application is accepted) until March 2024.

“I cannot bear the thought of my boy alone and cold in the morgue for that length of time. It is agony he has had to spend Christmas Day alone.

“I am desperately appealing to you as a mother to a father to help me bury my boy so he is no longer alone.”

The letter was handed to security staff.

Ms Brown and William’s dad, William Brown Snr, had both previously said it was a “miracle” a space was available in the churchyard for their son.

The family plans to hold a public funeral to celebrate the life of William as well as to bring the community together.

A 49-year-old man was arrested in Dymchurch almost 24 hours after William was knocked down.

He was questioned by detectives on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

He has now been released on bail until March 6.

Police say the fatal collision near the junction with Prospect Road involved two vehicles – a grey Peugeot van and a red Citroen car.

The van left the scene in the direction of Hythe, before the arrival of emergency services.

Medics tried desperately to resuscitate William for 40 minutes but were unable to save his life and he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.