Wellington woman Jenny Clark had a right royal surprise this
year when a 60th birthday gift from Prince Charles appeared
in her mail.
Ms Clark said her birthday had always been somewhat
overshadowed by the prince, who was born two days before her
on November 14, 1948.
"This year was a big one, our 60th, so I thought, 'Blow this.
He can come to my party this time'," she told The
Wellingtonian newspaper.
In jest, Ms Clark said she wrote to Prince Charles inviting
him to her 60th birthday party, not imagining she would
receive a reply.
"I got a nice letter, very formal on Clarence House
letterhead, from one of his staff, thanking me for thinking
of them. It said: "As you can imagine, Their Royal Highnesses
are having their own celebrations', and thanked me for the
invitation," Ms Clark said.
"That took me by surprise and I thought it was a lovely
gesture."
When a courier package arrived with Buckingham Place on the
envelope a couple of days later, Ms Clark said she thought
her husband was playing a joke.
"But when I opened it, I found it contained a tin of Prince
Charles' own shortbread, Duchy Originals, along with a
handwritten letter from the prince.
"He said he knew I shared my 60th birthday with him, and that
1948 was a very good vintage.
"He sent his warmest and most heartfelt congratulations,
wished me countless happy returns, and said he was sending a
small token to mark the special occasion."
