A pensioner has written a poem for The Queen, ahead of her visit to the borough next month.

Dorothy Pope, of Runnelfield, Harrow-on-the-Hill, said she wrote the poem to The Queen to "applaud" her idol.

The Queen will be visiting the Krishna Avanti School, Camrose Avenue, on Thursday, March 29, as part of her diamond jubilee celebrations.

Mrs Pope’s poem reads:

Sixty Years of service! What a record, what a gift!
I want to say my thank you
to you Ma'am because what if

you'd not been steadfast, dutiful,
hardworking, always there.
a well-informed professional
for this land beyond compare?

We're lucky in your character
which puts obligation first.
You serve as an example
both to emulate and trust.

You are so rich and privileged
I sometimes wonder what it's like
but I also see you're burdened
and don't panic, moan or strike.

Then again, you're only human
must almost sometimes give up hope
but you bear hard times with dignity
I've noticed how you cope.

I'm proud of you, and grateful,
would take this chance to cheer,
Keep going, please. More of the same.
Many happy returns of the year."

The 77-year-old retired English teacher, said: “I’m a monarchist and think we have a wonderful Queen, we couldn’t be more fortunate to have her really.

“She never waivers – she’s had some tribulations over the years but she just rides through them. I just felt like praising her and thought that a poem was a nice way to do that.

“I applaud the woman for doing all she does to us, she should be very proud of all her achievements.

“The words just rolled up in my heart and the rest is history. I combined by love for the Queen with my love for writing, and am very pleased with the result.

Mrs Pope, who lives with her husband, Brian, added:

“I hope that the Queen will be able to read my poem when she visits the borough later this month, and I’d also like to meet her. What an honour that would be.”