London, Jan 23 : The Queen and Prince Philip have taken a keen interest in the mysterious crop circles, thought by many to be created by extraterrestrial beings, it has been revealed.

The letters from the Queen's private secretary show that the couple asked to be kept informed about the weird farmland patterns, reports the Sun.

A scientist who has studied the phenomenon in depth claims that Philip had newsletters on the subject sent to Buckingham Palace while the Queen had his book Circular Evidence on the subject on one of her summer reading lists.

On hearing that ex-local government engineer Colin Andrews, was struggling to get funding for his research, the Queen asked for a sympathetic letter to be sent to him saying she was "saddened" by the news.

The letter, from her private secretary, read: "Her Majesty has taken an interest in the mysterious crop circles for some time and was sad to hear your results of years of research into the question are at risk through lack of funds."

Andrews said that the book Circular Evidence was placed on the monarch's summer reading list, while Philip paid 6 pounds for an annual subscription to his crop circle round-up at the height of the phenomena in the 1980s and 1990s.

His website features a series of letters from the Royal household, in which aides describe the issue of crop circles as a "fascinating subject".

"What has infuriated me is that the Ministry of Defence continues to deny the Royal Family took an interest in the subject when I know for a fact they did," Andrews said.