Charles and Camilla photo adorns new-look cards to delight of first recipients
King Charles III’s ascension has led to a change of look for the traditional 100th birthday greetings from the monarch, with the first cards just being delivered.
Several veterans of the Second World War are recipients of the first milestone cards from The King and The Queen Consort, following suspension of the practice after the death of the Late Queen Elizabeth II in September.
The greeting cards were not able to be sent during the official mourning period between 9 September and the late monarch’s state funeral on 19 September, as well as for some weeks following while new cards were being designed and printed with a photograph of Charles and Camilla.
And one of the first recipients of the new design, which is signed by the King, was Glasgow-born Ruth Park-Pearson who served in the Wrens (Women’s Royal Naval Service) and celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday, 21 October, at her North Yorkshire home surrounded by family from her six children, 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, as well as plenty of other greeting cards marking the big occasion.
The personalised royal greeting card arrived the following day and stated: “My wife and I are so pleased to know that you celebrated your 100th birthday on 21st October 2022. This brings our warmest congratulations and heartfelt good wishes on such a special occasion.”
Ruth told the BBC she was delighted with the “lovely” card, and spoke of how she had served in the Forces under the King’s grandfather George VI and was now being congratulated by the fifth monarch of her lifetime, having been born in the reign of George V, followed by his son Edward VIII, who abdicated after 327 days.
She said: “You don’t think about it at the time, it’s not until later you realise just sort of how old you are suddenly. You think, my goodness me, I remember the old King.”
The sending of written messages to mark significant birthdays and anniversaries is a tradition that dates back to 1917 and the reign of King George V, when those celebrating their 100th birthday or 60th wedding anniversary were sent a telegram of good wishes from His Majesty.
It has since expanded significantly in scale, with thousands of cards sent to mark people’s 100th and 105th birthdays, as well as for couples celebrating their 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries, plus messages to celebrate every subsequent milestone.
During Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, around 1.3million cards were sent from Buckingham Palace to mark birthdays and anniversaries across the UK, Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories.
With an ageing population, the number of recipients has grown – in 1917 King George V sent out 24 telegrams to centenarians and 273 were sent in 1952 when Elizabeth II became monarch. By 2014, the office responsible for sending out the cards had to hire extra staff as the annual tally topped 7,500.
With the Anniversaries Office now reopened, it is possible to apply for a congratulatory message for current citizens of Commonwealth realms – countries where The King is Head of State – or UK Overseas Territories. If an application was made during the suspension, a belated message will be sent from Their Majesties.
The oldest-yet recipient of a birthday message from The Queen was a Canadian gentleman, who reached the age of 116 in December 1984, and in May 2002, an event in Israel was held to celebrate the country’s 600 centenarians, inspired by the custom of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday messages with a message from Her Majesty to the guests.
Top: Royal greetings for centenarian Ruth Park-Pearson
