Woonona twins woo William with woollies

Mabel Suddick and twin Evelyn Cracknell received a letter of thanks in 1982 after knitting gifts for baby Prince William. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR

Prince William will never know the Woonona twins who have followed his life so closely, but he may have them to thank for a little of his comfort as a baby.

Mabel Suddick and Evelyn Cracknell posted a bounty of home-made baby woollens to Buckingham Palace shortly after the prince was born in June 1982.

As Sydney farewelled the second-in-line to the British throne yesterday, the identical twins dusted off mementoes that rank among their most prized possessions - letters of thanks for the gifts, signed by Princess Diana's then lady-in-waiting, Anne Beckwith-Smith.

Proving the correspondence was meant especially for them, Miss Beckwith-Smith wrote thanks specifically for the items sent - eight pair of booties and a hand-crotcheted coat hanger from Mrs Suddick and three knitted pastel baby jackets from Mrs Cracknell.

"It was very exciting," said Mrs Cracknell of the moment she opened her letterbox and spotted the royal seal. Mrs Suddick was equally chuffed.

"One of our older sisters said we'd never get a reply," she said.

"It gave us great joy to take it to her to see it."

The sisters, who wear identical dress everywhere they go and share the same wedding date, engagement date and have lived on the same Woonona street for 46 years, are keen royal watchers.

They spotted the Queen at Bulli railway station during her Australian visit in 1953, and have keenly followed Prince William's fleeting Australian visit.

Both were impressed by the prince's conduct and say he was worth every stitch.

"He's a credit to (Diana) and I think he'd make a great king," Mrs Suddick said.

"If we're still around when he has his first child we may knit for him again."

(Edit:Ruby)