SHE has named magnificent cruise liners like the QE2 and the Queen Mary 2.

But the Queen was just as impressed by a cardboard ship made for her by a Romsey preschooler.

Four-year-old Ella Bailiff made the vessel out of cardboard boxes at Little Saints Community Preschool as a present for Her Majesty, and insisted her mum Becky send it to Buckingham Palace.

She was delighted to receive a reply from the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, conveying the monarch’s gratitude for the gift. Mrs Bailiff, 31, of North Baddesley, said: “She made this ship out of a mince pie box and an egg carton and said it was the Queen’s ship, because she loves the Queen.

“She told me I had to send it to The Queen, so I told her we could post it and we looked up the address and sent it off.

“I didn’t think any more of it but then a few weeks later we got this letter through the post with a crest on the back and Ella just knew it was about the Queen. We opened it and it was from her lady-in-waiting thanking Ella.

“She was overjoyed and kept saying ‘The Queen’s coming!’ I nearly cried.”

In the letter, Lady Hussey said: “The Queen wishes me to thank you for your letter with which you sent a splendid ship you made at your pre-school. Her Majesty was very touched that you made this gift especially for her and greatly appreciated your kind words.”

Belinda Vincent, deputy supervisor at the preschool, said: “We are really pleased for Ella. We quite often have ‘junk modelling’ sessions where children use old boxes and shiny paper to make things, and it’s a chance for the children to put together something they like.

“Ella said she had made this boat for the Queen and made her mum send it off. I think it cost a good £7 to post so I'm sure she’s happy with the reply.”