ORGANISERS of a royal knees-up in Liss Forest have had a shock response from Buckingham Palace.

The Queen has belatedly thanked the residents of Pine Walk for inviting the monarch to their street party on June 4.

Members of the road's diamond jubilee committee sent the cheeky invitation a few days before they held the party in Her Majesty's honour.

They realised that the Queen might be busy but were thrilled to receive a thank you letter from her lady-in-waiting early last week.

Amanda Todd received the "very important-looking envelope" after Ron Chisholm suggested writing to the palace.

The response was addressed to Mrs Todd and the residents of Pine Walk and included pictures of the Queen through her 60-year reign.

"The Queen wishes me to write and thank you all for the letter and kind invitation which you sent on the occasion of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee," read the letter.

"Although the Queen was unable to accept your invitation to your street party on June 4, she hopes that you were all able to enjoy a very happy day.

"Her Majesty is deeply grateful for the support and encouragement she has received throughout her long reign, and I am to thank you all very much for your good wishes for the Queen in this historic year."

Mrs Todd admitted that residents weren't expecting the Queen to attend but was thrilled to get the letter to show to village children in years to come.

She said: "I don't think I sent the invitation in time but we thought if we got a response it would have been really nice to show the children.

"It's a shame the Queen didn't turn up because we really would have rolled the red carpet out for her. I'm sure she would have enjoyed our party."