The Queen’s bright smile attracted the attention of a 12-year-old Maltese boy who has become a big fan and an expert on the most photographed woman in the world.

From Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace and anything in between, Andrew Debono Cauchi has an impressive knowledge of royal life – he’s a walking encyclopaedia on everything you need to know about Her Majesty.

A Form 1 student at Stella Maris College, Andrew first saw the Queen on the news when he was just eight years old and decided to do more research to find out who this happy woman on the TV was.

Andrew Debono Cauchi, a fan of Her Majesty together with his royal collection. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

“She always has a fresh smile, never sad, never gloomy, always telling jokes,” he said, recalling watching a documentary about when Australian painter Rolf Harris was commissioned to paint her and the jokes they shared when they met.

His support for the Royal Family has led him to start a collection with books, a mug, a pen, pictures, a digital photo frame and mini project which he has put together in a sort of tribute to her Majesty. What really cemented his fascination was when he received a reply to his first of four letters he wrote to her. Each and every time she replied, through one of her ladies-in-waiting, he was spurred to find out more and more about the Royal Family.

The idea of putting pen to paper first presented itself in his English language class at school, when his teacher tasked her students to write letters to famous people.

In the letters he told the Queen about his everyday life and things which happen to him and even sent her a project he made about her.

So far he has received four replies from Buckingham Palace, one from the Pope and ironically nothing from our own head of state, President George Abela. Keeping positive, he said that even though it has been two years, he was still waiting for Dr Abela’s response.

This love for the British monarch has rubbed off on his friends too, who pretend to be soldiers in the British army, marching and playing. He has also taken a keen interest in Harry Potter, the “contributing factor being that it is British”, Andrew said.

He takes his love for the Queen everywhere and after school he drives his grandmother crazy playing Britain’s national anthem God Save the Queen and other military songs, including others such as Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory.

Andrew also likes to watch key royal events such as the marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

His dream is to go to London one day but his ambition is to meet the Queen one day something he is determined to do.