Woman celebrates 105th birthday in care home with help from the Queen

A woman has celebrated her 105th birthday in her care room – with a little helping hand from the Queen.

Dulcie turned 105 on Tuesday, with the event coinciding with International Women’s Day and she was left feeling ecstatic after receiving her second telegram from the Queen.

She celebrated the special day with a colourful cake with a picture of her printed on it, plus a visit from her daughter Barbara, 76, at The Manor Care Home in Taunton.

Dulcie, from Little Petherton in Bridgwater, enjoyed the low-key affair with the telegram from the Queen a personal highlight.

She had previously received one on her 100th birthday.

When asked the secret to reaching such an incredible age, Dulcie said: “I had a wonderful husband and daughter.”

Helping with the celebrations was home service advisor Adele Beaton, who told Jam Press: “She likes our Queen and was over the moon – and impressed with how young the Queen looked.

“She thought the Queen’s handwriting was shakier than it was five years ago!”Dulcie has lived at the home for six years.

She previously worked as a private housekeeper who looked after three children, who still visit her to this day.

She also worked in an arms factory during the war-making gauges.

Earlier today it was revealed that the Queen has cancelled her annual Commonwealth Day service after suffering problems with her mobility.

The 95-year-old monarch is understood to be experiencing increasing discomfort when it comes to getting about.

Her Majesty will instead be represented by the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace said.

The head of state, who has recently recovered from a bout of Covid, hoped to join Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth event. 

The ­decision is not linked to any illness but is related to the Queen’s comfort of getting to and from the service.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Queen has asked the Prince of Wales to represent Her Majesty at the Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey.”

The service would have been the Queen’s first major public appearance since reaching her Platinum Jubilee milestone, and the first Commonwealth Day service held in full since 2020.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said she believed the Queen would be “determined” to make the Thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey dedicated to her late husband Prince Philip on March 29.