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6/1/2009 at 9:10 PM
Dress complaint nets British woman, 109, visit from prince
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 | 10:27 PM ET Comments32Recommend97
CBC News
Prince William visited a British nursing home last week to deliver a personal apology after a 109-year-old resident complained about birthday cards sent to her by the Queen.
Catherine Masters wrote to Queen Elizabeth because the past five birthday cards she received showed the monarch wearing the same yellow dress.
Like all British centenarians, Masters received a royal birthday card from the Queen when she turned 100, 105 and every year thereafter.
Employees at the Grange Care Centre in Oxford said they received about five minutes notice of Prince William's arrival last Friday.
"It was a total shock, and Catherine was speechless. Prince William came in and she asked if he was real. She squeezed his hand to check," senior nurse manager Wendy Mead told the BBC.
Masters told the Oxford Mail newspaper she told the prince, who is second in line to the British throne behind his father, Prince Charles, that she thought the Queen should wear a blue or white dress.
William assured Masters the Queen would wear another dress for the next photo.
The pair, who spent about 40 minutes chatting over tea and scones, also reportedly discussed horse racing and compared recipes for shepherd's pie.
Masters has been invited to attend a garden party with the Queen at Buckingham Palace in July.
With files from The Associated Press