The Queen has thanked a Canadian marsh and wetland preservation group for naming a swan in her honour.
The Friends of Wye Marsh sent The Queen a letter back in June during the Platinum Jubilee weekend to alert her to their newest adopted trumpeter swan, C70, named Elizabeth in honour of The Queen.
According to an earlier article from the Village Media publication group, the letter sent to The Queen told her all about its joint project with the Ontario Trumpeter Swan Restoration Group to reintroduce the bird to the province.
“As the trumpets ring out, and jubilee festivities take place across the Commonwealth, please know that the Friends of Wye Marsh will be thinking of you each time we are graced with ‘C70’ in our midst, our very own Elizabeth.”
The Queen wrote back to Friends of Wye Marsh, writing: “The Queen was touched to see the photograph of Elizabeth, the splendid Trumpeter Swan you named after Her Majesty to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee milestone.
“Her Majesty is most interested to know of your success in having reintroduced this wonderful species to Ontario’s wetlands, and your thought for the Queen at this time is greatly appreciated, as are your good wishes.”
Kim Hacker, Friends of Wye Marsh’s executive director, said in an interview, “It’s very exciting for us because we work hard to try to protect the environment, so to have the acknowledgement from her thanking us for the work we do with swans, it felt really powerful and our volunteers felt really touched to have their regular efforts recognised by such a powerful person.”
The group shared on its social media accounts a photo of the letter received from The Queen—the standard Platinum Jubilee photo card included—with the caption: “You may recall that in the spring, Friends of Wye Marsh adopted Trumpeter Swan C70 and named her Elizabeth in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
“We mailed a letter to this effect to Her Majesty, explaining the re-introduction program and the success of wild Trumpeter Swan populations in Ontario now.
“This week we received a response, and wanted to share that with you as well. We love spreading awareness about the conservation work done at Wye Marsh – with everyone!”
