BUCKINGHAM PALACE

9th July, 2015

Dear Mr Fleming

The Queen has asked me to thank you for your letter of  3rd July, in which you tell Her Majesty of your interest in Thames Barge Sailing Boats and your idea for organising a flotilla of these boats down the Thames in order to raise awareness of the funding needed to restore and maintain them.

I must tell you, however, that this is not a matter in which The Queen would personally intervene. As a constitutional Sovereign, Her Majesty acts on the advice of her Ministers and you were, therefore, quite correct to address your appeal in the first interest to the Office of the Mayor of London.

Nevertheless, I am forwarding your letter to the Right Honourable John Whittingdale, MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, so that he may know of your approach to The Queen on this matter.

In the meantime, may I take this opportunity to send you my good wishes for every success in securing funds to ensure the future of these historic boats.

Yours sincerely

Miss Jennie Vine

Deputy Correspondence Coordinator

Mr Jonathan Fleming