The Queen's secret letter: Some of the content has been revealed before expected opening in 2085

Reportedly, the Queen had written a handwritten secret letter that lies hidden in a vault and it can’t be opened for another 63 years.

These are some of the contents of the Queen’s secret handwritten letter
© Tim Graham
These are some of the contents of the Queen’s secret handwritten letter

Queen Elizabeth II penned a letter to the people of Sydney more than 30 years ago. The secret handwritten letter by the Queen has been kept in a vault for 36 years, and the Queen herself finally ordered its disclosure in 2085. So, another 63 years before we know what Her Majesty wrote for the people of Sydney, however, there are contents that we do know about.

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The whereabouts

The letter is put in one of the most historic buildings in Australia – The Queen Victoria Building. The note was written to mark the restoration of the building which is now a five-level shopping centre, confirms The Sun. Queen Elizabeth II wrote the letter in 1986 and it has been sitting inside a restricted area in its dome.

The QVB building was built in 1898 and was given its name in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, which was observed the previous year to commemorate the monarch's accession 60 years earlier. Her Majesty made 16 trips there, the first of which took place in 1954, barely two years after she became the Queen.

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Clock tower in the Queen Victoria Building George Rose

What’s written in the letter?

Most of the contents of the letters are kept a secret, even from the monarch’s personal staff. However, there are some instructions on the letter that read:

Greetings. On a suitable day to be selected by you in the year 2085 A.D. would you please open this envelope and convey to the citizens of SYDNEY my message to them.

The letter, which is signed by the Queen, is addressed to:

Right and Honourable Lord Mayor of Sydney, Australia

After Her Majesty’s death, King Charles III has now become the head of state of Australia.

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