Mervyn Kersh arrived in Normandy aged 19, three days after the start of the D-Day invasion in June 1944, acting for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

A D-Day veteran has thanked the King and Queen for their card at his surprise 100th birthday party.

Mervyn Kersh arrived in Normandy aged 19, three days after the start of the D-Day invasion in June 1944, acting as a technical clerk for the Royal Army Ordnance Corps organising vehicle support.

The ambassador for the British Normandy Memorial, from Cockfosters, north London, was surprised by family and friends at the Union Jack Club in south-east London on Friday.

Mr Kersh read out his birthday card signed by the King and Queen, and told reporters: “Very nice of them, I’ll have to pop round to Buckingham Palace to give them thanks, pop in to say hello.”

He said he has met Charles three times, including when he was Prince of Wales, adding: “I told him I’d put the kettle on if he ever........

© Shropshire Star