by Angela Cole

She might be in demand during her jubilee, but that didn’t stop the Queen being invited to a street party by 10-year-old Reuben Fielding.

Reuben, of Pilgrims Way, Hollingbourne, decided there was one person missing from the village’s Afternoon Tea with Liz guest list, and so took matters into his hands and dropped Her Majesty a line.

He wrote:“We would be honoured if you could attend this lovely celebration. We know you’ll be very busy on that day, so if you cannot come we will have a cardboard replica of yourself.”

And, although declining the invitation due to a prior engagement, the Queen’s Lady in Waiting, Phillippa, wrote back: “The Queen greatly appreciates your thought for her at this time and although unable to come to the street party you are holding to celebrate this historical year, Her Majesty hopes you have a happy and memorable day.”

In lieu of the Queen’s attendance, Reuben’s mum, Karen Fielding, who is one of the organisers, has found a life-size cardboard cut-out of the leading lady, which people can have their photos taken with during the Monday, June 4, red, white and blue-themed fun.

The Pilgrims Way event will be one of some 140 street parties being held across Kent, although more applications were expected by Kent County Council ahead of the deadline today.

Charges have been waived for those being held on quiet residential roads and cul-de-sacs.

Twenty four Tucanos taking part in the Flypast will be taking off from Manston airport.