A Winsford poet has written a moving tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and sent it to her son King Charles.

Eleanor ‘Diane’ Taylor, who lives at Redwalls Nursing Home in Sandiway, has had poems published in four anthologies over the last 20 years.

She said she hopes this poem, Queen Elizabeth II, with bring the King some comfort at his time of grief.

The idea to send her poem to Buckingham Palace came from staff at the nursing home, who read the poem and founding it touching.

Diane said: “We sent the poem to the King five or six days ago, but he hasn’t replied yet.

“I’m sure he won’t look at it straight away – I can see on the news that he’s very busy with official engagements at the moment.

“I sent a poem to the Queen in the past, and she sent me a reply on a nice card with a picture of the Duke of Edinburgh on it, which I've kept.”

The 81-year-old grew up in Walton, Liverpool, but moved to Winsford in 1969 when her husband was offered a job at Driver-Harris cable and wire factory.

Redwalls regional activities coordinator, Jodie Solaiman, said: “We knew she wrote poems, but she kept this one really quiet.

"I think everyone was quite shocked when they read it – we were all really impressed.

"I think it’s really moving, and I know some of the other residents really enjoyed reading it as well.

"She’s quite a private lady, but when we have done royal celebrations in the past, she has always been keen to participate in them."

Diane’s first published poem appeared in the collection Passion for Poetry in 2002 by United Press, with other poems appearing in later anthologies Mixed Emotions, Just for You, and Reflections, by the same publisher.

Redwalls manager, Beverley Davies, said: “We try to encourage our residents to continue with the activities they did at home, and to remain as active as they possibly can.”

Here is the poem Diane sent to King Charles:

​Queen Elizabeth II

By Diane Taylor

I was very sad to hear the news about the Queen passing away.

She has not gone far,

Just gone to sleep for a while. In God’s grace, in God’s care.

She was a lovely lady, she had a lovely smile,

Like her mother and her sister Margaret too.

I will miss her smile and miss seeing her,

But she has not gone far,

Just asleep for a while.

In God’s grace, in God’s care.

As she takes her last journey home,

She will be with her Prince again.

Thinking back over the years.

In early years when she met her Prince,

He came from a far off land, Greece no less.

They met, her eyes sparked and his too.

Their hearts fluttered like butterflies,

And they came together like the words of a song.

They fell in love like Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending.

They’ve raised a family.

Now grown with families of their own.

And when I think back I will see her in my minds eye,

And she will be in my heart.

As you may think back, You will see her in your minds eye.

I will miss her smile, I will miss seeing her,

But she’s not gone far to sleep for a while,

In God’s grace, in God’s care.

I will always see her,

In my minds eye,

You will always see her as we all will see her.

Long live the King.