King Charles Hosts Centenarians in Poignant Tribute to Queen Elizabeth's 100th Birthday
King Charles has led the royal family in a heartfelt celebration marking what would have been the 100th birthday of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace, inviting three centenarians who share the Queen's birthday to commemorate the milestone.
A Shared Celebration with Centenarians
Charles personally handed out official 100th birthday cards to the three centenarians invited to the event. The King cut a birthday cake with 100-year-old Joan Illingworth after she confessed she could not manage the task herself, with Charles telling her "let me do that" as they shared the duty.
Mrs Illingworth, described as a "superager" from Bradford who maintains the mental abilities of someone decades younger, proved particularly popular with the royals. Prince William struggled to believe the youthful-looking great-grandmother of seven had actually turned 100, holding her hand for around 30 seconds when they were first introduced.
The Prince of Wales told her "I can't believe you are 100, do I need to call security, have you snuck in?" and was amazed when family members revealed her secret to longevity was Liquorice Allsorts and clotted cream.
Charities and Military Honours Remembered
The event also honoured Queen Elizabeth's legacy through the charities she served during her remarkable 70-year reign. Organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, and the Royal Ballet were invited to the Buckingham Palace reception.
The Princess of Wales shared a particularly poignant moment with former Metropolitan Police officer Tony Gledhill, a trustee of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association. Mr Gledhill, who recently lost his wife of 67 years, received comforting words from Kate, William, and Charles, later describing the princess as "lovely" and "fantastic."
Colour Sergeant Johnson Beharry, who received the Victoria Cross for twice saving colleagues under fire in Iraq in 2005, also attended and reminisced about receiving his prestigious honour from the late Queen. He recalled her saying "you are a very special person. I don't get to do this very often" during the ceremony.
Royal Family Gathers for Memorial Events
Earlier in the day, the King and Queen visited the British Museum to see the final design for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, which Charles praised as "fantastic." A rare group photograph showing all working royals attending the reception was published, featuring the Princess Royal, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.
The celebration included a military band playing "Happy Birthday" and featured a selection of 100th birthday cards presented during the late Queen's lifetime. Prince William was later spotted drinking a special cocktail produced in his grandmother's honour, featuring Dubonnet, lemon juice, rosemary and tonic, but notably without gin as the event was held early in the day.
Remembering a Historic Reign
Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at her Balmoral home aged 96 on September 8, 2022, after serving as sovereign for 70 years. For the woman who was never originally meant to be sovereign, the late Queen fulfilled her pledge to serve nation and Commonwealth, earning respect from world leaders and the public alike.
The Buckingham Palace event served as both a celebration of what would have been her centenary and a continuation of her legacy through the organisations and individuals she championed throughout her unprecedented reign.
