King Charles III was among those who sent their well wishes to a North Yorkshire care home resident celebrating their 100th birthday.
Doreen Walls, a resident at Sycamore Hall Care Home in Ripon, is the first centenarian at any Hill Care Group home to receive a birthday card from the monarch since his ascension to the throne in September.
The card and a telegram from the King – a tradition dating back to 1917 and King Charles’ great grandfather King George V – was one of dozens received by Doreen on her big day.
Born in Beeston, Leeds, on November 19, 1922, Doreen grew up in the city and later got a job as a secretary at surgical equipment manufacturer Charles F Thackray Ltd, where she met her husband, Eric Walls.
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The couple, who got married in 1942, had two children, Susan and Timothy, and later moved to London where Doreen got a job as a supervisor at Pinner Telephone Exchange.
Her family visited her regularly in the London suburb of Pinner and Doreen recalled one amusing memory from Christmas.
She said: “All the family used to come to Pinner at Christmas.
"One time, my sister-in-law was having a bath when my brother and I went in and threw cold water over her.
"Naughty but funny.”
Eric died in 1985 and Doreen moved back to Leeds to be closer to her family.
She moved to Sycamore Hall Care Home in September 2016, where staff put up birthday banners and balloons to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Doreen said: “We had a party with family and friends.
"Susan and Timothy took me out for a nice family meal.”
Ewelina Sosnowska, manager at Sycamore Hall Care Home, said: “Doreen really enjoyed her 100th birthday party with her friends at Sycamore.
"Her eyes lit up when she saw her birthday cake.
“She loved the cute teddy bear and giant card that all the staff and residents had signed.
“It is always a very special occasion for all the staff to be able to share a resident’s special day.
"We all get involved in celebrating those wonderful moments.”
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