Pen pals for 70 years! Queen shared same birthday and love for marmalade recipes with Adele Hankey from North Dakota
PARK RIVER, NORTH DAKOTA: Adele Hankey, a native of North Dakota, became pen pal with the Queen in 1953. The fact that they both had the same birthday led to the development of this unique relationship, which lasted for 70 years, the same amount of time that Queen Elizabeth II ruled the country.
Hankey wrote the late monarch her first letter soon after her coronation on June 2, 1953, according to KFYR. She was surprised to receive a birthday card from the Queen in response because they were both born on April 21, 1926. She told the publication, "I could have jumped out of my shoes." Hankey, who has a love for writing, has contributed to the Walsh County Press, Walsh County Records, and Dakota Country Magazine. She is also well known for her recipes inspired by nature and even has her own cookbook.
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The two Taurus women corresponded over the years, but in addition to sharing the same birthday, they also had an interest in gastronomy. Hankey stated, "The recipes the Queen liked were with marmalade. And so do I. How about that?"
The queen was born on April 21, 1926. So was Park River’s Adele Hankey. https://t.co/BtbuDBsb6o
— KFYR-TV (@KFYRTV) September 15, 2022
Hankey acknowledges that she will miss her interaction with the royal and doesn't have any knowledge regarding how many letters they exchanged over the years. "Oh absolutely. You miss your pen pals," she remarked.
The late Queen's funeral will begin at 6 am (ET) on September 19 at Westminster Abbey. Industry analysts predict that 4.1 billion viewers from around the world will tune in and if this prediction becomes successful, this event will have the highest global viewership of any broadcast. The upcoming ceremonial event will usher in a "new age," according to TV analyst Carolina Beltramo in an interview with WatchTVAbroad.com.
Beltramo said, "Such is the love and admiration for Queen Elizabeth II around the world that her funeral is destined to be the biggest live TV event in history. Generations of people across the globe won't have been alive the last time pomp and pageantry were seen on this scale."
Beltramo added, "While it's a sad occasion, they can be forgiven for being enthralled by a spectacle that echoes throughout history. For that reason alone they'll be drawn to witness the dawn of this new age in their billions. No fewer than 4.1 billion people are expected to tune in on Monday to witness this historic moment as half the people on planet Earth pause to pay their respects." The entire memorial service will be aired live in the UK on BBC One, BBC News, and BBC iPlayer in addition to ITV's main and digital networks.