Man Shares Touching Reason Why He Mails Christmas Cards to Queen Elizabeth

— -- A man's inspirational story behind his annual Christmas card to Queen Elizabeth is taking the internet by storm.

"I learned a lot of things from [my grandfather] and I always saw him writing to the queen around Christmas," Andrew Simes of Izmir, Turkey told ABC News. "As you can see, my grandfather still makes history after his passing."

The 33-year-old's inspirational act is based on his effort to keep is grandfather's memory alive.

Simes was born in London, but raised in Turkey--a short distance that allowed the family to continue its family tradition.

"The way we were raised, we kept true to tradition and our admiration for the royal family," he said. "Our family had written to the royal family sand it was a tradition that had died down. Christmas cards aren't as popular too."

Since his grandfather Alfred Simes was a child, Simes said he wrote to the British monarch.

In 1952, he began writing to her majesty Queen Elizabeth II until his passing in 2011 at the age of 102.

"I was told at the retirement home that his last word was that he called out for me," Simes said. "My grandfather was the most amazing and special person. I never had a bedtime story read to me as a kid. Grandpa would come over and tell me stories of the war, how he met presidents, popes--those were my bedtime stories. When he passed I wanted to hold onto this and pass onto my future kids."

To honor his grandpa, Simes said he took over his annual custom of wishing the queen a 'Merry Christmas' in 2012.

On Dec. 9., he shared the history behind his family custom with the world in a Facebook post.

"As a loyal grandson, admirer and student of his, I took it upon myself to continue writing our Queen every year to show our appreciation," Simes wrote. "And I started that very first Christmas after Grandpa's passing. In January 2012, about a month after Christmas, I received a letter. The envelope suggested that it was sent from Buckingham Palace. In it was written: "When I received a letter from a different Simes this Christmas, I instructed my office to research your grandfather's whereabouts. Therefore it is with much sadness, I have learned of his passing and extend my condolences to you and your family." I couldn't fight back the tears then, nor can I fight them back every time I remember this story of two people who left a lifelong impression on each other. And today, just as every year, I sent my Christmas cards... but top of the list was reserved for Her Majesty. Wishing you all a Christmas as magical as this story."

Simes said receives a reply from the queen's 'lady in waiting' yearly and that he has passed his Christmas card tradition along to the school-aged students he tutors.

Simes' story has been shared over 19,000 times via Facebook.