An Irish schoolboy who wrote to Queen Elizabeth asking her to return the north to Ireland has received a reply.
Reese Kilbride, who attends St Helen's senior national school in Portmarnock, Co Dublin, penned the letter to the British monarch after learning about the 1916 Easter Rising at school.
The 12-year-old was so inspired by the events of Easter week he decided to launch his own campaign for a united Ireland.
“We were learning about the Easter Rising and how much trouble they brought to Ireland and that they had the six counties - they didn't give back all of Ireland, so I thought they should give it back," he told Newstalk Breakfast.
He also included a picture of himself, a friend and Queen Elizabeth standing outside a palace with his letter.
The sixth class pupil’s mother Fiona Dowling said she told him he "had to be nice to her, don't say anything mean and put 'Your Majesty' [on the letter]".
She also warned him not to expect a reply to the letter which was sent in February.
Howver, the family was stunned this week when Buckingham Palace official Jennie Vine wrote to say the queen could not get involved in political matters.
The letter, which was signed by Jennie Vine, the Deputy Correspondence Coordinator and said, "The queen has asked me to thank you for your recent letter in which you wished to tell Her Majesty that you have been learning about the history of the Easter Rising 1916.
"While it was thoughtful of you to let the queen know of your views, I must explain that this is not a matter in which her majesty would intervene.
“As a constitutional sovereign, the queen acts on the advice of her ministers and remains strictly non-political at all times."
The letter continued, "Her majesty has asked me to thank you for the pictures you drew especially for her, and I would like to send you and your family my good wishes at this time."
