MELROSE centenarian Georgina Paterson celebrated with friends at Priorwood Court last week.

And she received a telegram from her old friend, The Queen.

Mrs Paterson was employed by Buckingham Palace in the late 1960s.

She progressed from her role as maid and housekeeper to a dedicated position looking after the late Princess Alice.

Following the death of Prince Phillip’s mother in 1969, Mrs Paterson received a personal thanks from The Queen.

And she was offered a full-time post as maid to Her Majesty.

Since retiring in Melrose Mrs Paterson rekindled her love of art and is a founding member of Tweedbank Art Club, along with her daughter, Nancy.

During a varied and colourful life, which began just after the outbreak of World War One, she worked her way around the world, mainly taking seasonal employment in hotels, including a seven-year stint at the Biaritz Hotel in Jersey.