Proud Brightlingsea youngster Ashley Lister had his 15 minutes of fame when he got to personally wish the Queen Mother a happy 101st birthday.

His special chat with the popular Royal made him the envy of thousands, who had queued overnight to see her.

Ten-year-old Ashley, of Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea, slept overnight on the pavement with grandmother Sandra Lister to make sure he got a good view of the family as they came out of Clarence House.

Later, he lined up with others to present the Queen Mother with a bunch of flowers.

"She started to speak to me then and told me I had given her a lovely bunch of lilies. I was wearing a Union Jack around my shoulders and she said she hoped I was wearing it the right way up.

"One of her foot soldiers even pulled it round to check but I think that was a joke," he said.

Mrs Lister, 51, said Ashley had been delighted to get to see the Queen Mother. "I was incredibly proud of him because he behaved very well and was very pleased about it all," she added.

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