Montrose centenarian Jean Burness is among the first in the country to receive a birthday card from the King.
As she celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday, she showed off her card from King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
Until her death in September the Queen sent cards to UK residents celebrating triple digit birthdays or 60th, 65th or 70th wedding anniversaries.
The King has now taken over the duty, and the first cards from him were dispatched in late October.
Jean is not the only Angus resident to have received one in recent days – George and Mabel Greenhill were sent a card for their 60th wedding anniversary.
She was said it was “great” to open the greeting as she prepared to celebrate with family and friends, including daughter Jean who had flown in especially from Florida.
Visitors to Fordmill Care Home, where she now lives, also included the Provost of Angus Brian Boyd and Robina Addison, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Angus.
Born Jean Lindsay in Montrose on November 6, 1922, Mrs Burness has lived in the town all her life.
She worked in the Chapel Works spinning mill before leaving to bring up her four children – two sons and two daughters – with husband George.
And Jean recalled wartime in the town, recounting a story of how she and a friend spotted ‘twinkling lights’ in the night sky as they were out walking.
She said: “We thought they were stars – we were just young – but it was bullets from a plane!”
And when asked her secret to living a such a long and healthy life, she harked back to the war again, quoting the song by Felix Powell and George Henry Powell: “‘Pack up your troubles’ and get on with life ‘smile, smile, smile’!”
Jean thanked her care home for hosting her party, which was also attended by some of her eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
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