Bemused shoppers had a royal appointment on Saturday when the Queen popped into Ashford town centre.

It was not actually Her Majesty, who was at Balmoral enjoying her summer break, but 14-year-old John Kellam, resplendent in a scarlet cloak, dress and mask – and a grey hat masquerading as the Queen’s curls.

John, a pupil at North School, was around the Bandstand raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. He chose the charity as his grandmother, Linda East, died from cancer.

It is not the first time John has donned a dress to fundraise. Last year he paraded round the town in drag.

“Dressing as the Queen was my mother’s idea,” he said. “I am quite happy to do it and don’t feel at all embarrassed.

“I’ve been practicing my royal wave and will go around the Bandstand area greeting people.”

John’s mother Tracey, of Newtown, Ashford, not only came up with the idea of dressing as the Queen but made the costume.

“Last year he dressed in drag and this year said he wanted to go one better,” she said. “I said we’d better think outside the box and came up with the Queen.

“It took me a month to make the costume as I had to hand sew it because I don’t have a sewing machine.

“He is raising money for Macmillan beause both my mother and a close friend of mine died from cancer.”

John hopes to have raised around £150.