When four-year-old Lucy Kinge flung her arms around the Duchess of Cornwall and gave her a hug at the Sandringham Flower Show in 2012 it took both of them by surprise.

Eastern Daily Press: At the Sandringham Flower Show The Duchess of Cornwall was given a big hug by Lucy Kinge (5) from Yaxham in 2012. Picture: Ian BurtAt the Sandringham Flower Show The Duchess of Cornwall was given a big hug by Lucy Kinge (5) from Yaxham in 2012. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

But it clearly made a lasting impression on the duchess as she has made a point of chatting to Lucy at the event every year since.

So when the Friends of Yaxham Primary School, which Lucy attends, organised its annual scarecrow competition with the theme of royalty the nine-year-old had to pay tribute to her special friend.

Standing in all their finery on the verge outside her grandparents' house in the village is a life-size scarecrow replica of the Duchess of Cornwall together with a suited Prince of Wales with attention to detail going as far as depicting a mini flower show.

Grandparents Barbara and Peter Bennett have even removed a fence panel in order to display a floral backdrop while Lucy, her brother Jacob and two cousins have created their own mini gardens.

Eastern Daily Press: Lucy with the Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall scarecrows. Picture: Matthew Usher.Lucy with the Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall scarecrows. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

Mrs Bennett said Lucy hit the headlines with her spontaneous act.

'She burst into tears when she saw herself on the national news,' she said. 'She was a bit overwhelmed and said she did it because she thought Camilla looked so pretty.'

Lucy added: 'When I think about it now I don't know why I did it. But I think it was a nice thing to do. One year I gave her a letter explaining who I was and she sent me a book about the Prince of Wales.

'I think she would laugh if she saw my scarecrow, and she would like it.'

Mrs Bennett said they would be going to the flower show this year and would stand in the same place as they have done for the past five in order to see the duchess.

They would also give her a picture of her scarecrow twin.

Yaxham has dozens of scarecrows dotted around the village. Votes can be cast before the winner is announced at the Friends of Yaxham School summer fete on Sunday which runs from noon to 3pm. There will also be a barbecue, craft stalls, raffle, a bouncy castle, face painting, refreshments, and a live band.