Queen enjoys display of 18ft-long 'knitted Sandringham', says 92-year-old creator
The Queen was left impressed by an 18ft-long "knitted Sandringham" version of her Norfolk home created by a great-great grandmother over two years.
Margaret Seaman, 92, spent up to 15 hours a day working on the woolly royal residence during the pandemic with the aim of fundraising for local hospitals.
When the monarch, 95, visited Sandringham recently she toured the attraction, which is now on display in the Ballroom at the royal residence.
The Sandringham House centre-piece features intricate architecture, chimneys and windows surrounded by knitted trees.
Mrs Seaman's creation also features other landmarks from the Queen's estate, including St Mary Magdalene Church, where the monarchy attend the Christmas Day service, along with some knitted members of the royal family.
The widow, from Caister-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth, remained tight-lipped about her meeting with The Queen but suggested she was impressed.
"That was absolutely wonderful, she seemed to enjoy it very much," Mrs Seaman said.
She added: "I started it two years ago and knitted the main house the first year and then the second year while we were in lockdown I did the remaining buildings the church and the stables and the museum.
"Although we were in lockdown I was never bored, or never wished I could go out or anything, I was quite happy at home knitting Sandringham - I thoroughly enjoyed it.
"I live with my daughter since I lost my husband and I knit all day, she does everything else and looks after me and does all the cooking - and I knit between 12 and 15 hours a day."
Mrs Seaman's creation could be viewed as a work in progress at the Forum in Norwich and has raised around £3,000 in donations from those impressed by her efforts.
The pensioner is fundraising through a JustGiving page for projects at three Norfolk hospitals, including a dedicated breast cancer unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, a maternity bereavement suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn and a community improvement project at the James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston-on-Sea.
Visitors to Sandringham can make a donation to the projects and the knitted display forms part of a visit to Sandringham House until 14 October.
