This month, The Queen will celebrate her 80th birthday. As the world focuses on her extraordinary achievements and the changes which she has seen over her eight decades, the Royal Household will be quietly continuing the tradition of celebrating the birthdays of some other very special people: centenarians. This month’s Focus looks at the unique tradition of the Royal birthday message or ‘telegram from The Queen’.
The origins of birthday messages from the Royal family There are no records confirming the exact date of the first Royal message to centenarians, or how the practice originated. However, we know that Queen Victoria took an active interest in people who lived to great ages, collecting photographs of some, which now reside in the Royal Photograph Collection.
Occasional messages were sent out to centenarians in the early years of the 20th century. A cutting from a national newspaper records a congratulatory message sent on behalf of King Edward VII to the Reverend Thomas Lord of Horncastle in April 1908. The article reproduces the text of the message:
‘I am commanded by the King to congratulate you on the attainment of your hundredth year, after a most useful life.’
and notes that the recipient issued the following reply:
‘I beg gratefully to acknowledge the receipt of your Majesty’s gracious congratulations. That your life and that of our beloved Queen may be long spared to be a blessing to your people is the earnest prayer of your loyal and loving subject.’
It was not until 1917 that messages began being sent out by the Royal Household on a regular basis, this being the first year that statistics were recorded.
Facts and figures Figures from 1917 record seven men and 17 women receiving greetings sent on behalf of King George V. Numbers rose slowly over the following decades and by the beginning of The Queen’s reign in 1952, the average number of messages sent each year was over 200. By the 1970s, the figure was over 1,000 and in the 1990s it was nearing 4,000.
Last year, 4,623 messages were sent on behalf of The Queen to centenarians.
The increase in figures can be attributed to a number of factors, and researchers and scientists have occasionally used official birthday message statistics to illustrate research relating to population growth and life expectancy.
A report by the Medical Research Council, published in 1996, describes the dramatic increase in life expectancy over the previous 100 years, and notes that figures for numbers of birthday greetings sent out by Buckingham Palace had increased accordingly.
The author reproduces the figures for the number of people living to 100 at the end of the 21st century in comparison to the beginning of The Queen’s reign, demonstrating why the anniversaries office in the Private Secretary’s department has become increasingly busy since 1952:
‘Overall, the chance of living to a hundred has increased 12 fold, from about 1 in 3,800 for those born in 1852 to 1 in 310 for those born in 1896.’
The increase in the number of birthday greetings sent out by the Anniversaries Office (part of the Private Secretary’s Office) has also been influenced by improved geriatric care, and a growing awareness of the tradition of the birthday message and how to apply for it.
The oldest ever recipient of a message from The Queen was a Canadian gentleman, who reached the age of 116 in December 1984, whilst the oldest British recipient was 115, the oldest woman in Britain at the time.
Some centenarians have been lucky enough to receive more than one message from The Queen: one congratulating them on their 100th birthday and another for their Diamond (60th) and/or Platinum (70th) wedding anniversaries for which messages are also sent. One couple, Percy and Florence Arrowsmith, received cards for their 60th and 70th anniversaries, plus individual 100th birthday greetings. Mr Arrowsmith received yet another when he reached 105. The couple eventually reached their 80th wedding anniversary, and so would have been eligible for another nine cards.
Occasionally, twins reach their milestone together. In the past year, two sets of twins reaching 100 have been recorded by Buckingham Palace. The Anniversaries Office, which is responsible for sending out the cards, ensures that each twin receives a slightly different greeting, aware that they will generally be together on their big day and will open their cards at the same time.
The changing format of birthday messages Birthday messages have changed format many times over the years with the first messages being sent as normal Post Office telegrams. Messages morphed into Royal Court Telegrams, probably in the early 1940s, the only difference being the name and a Royal Crest which appeared at the top of the page.
When the Post Office introduced the ‘Special Greetings Telegram’, a colourful letter template onto which the telegram was written or printed, The Queen agreed that the birthday telegrams should be sent out in this format to add to the sense of occasion. These special templates changed design over the years, reflecting the developing tastes and fashions of the times.
In 1982, when the Inland Telegram Service ceased to operate, it was replaced with the new ‘Telemessage’ service. Telemessages were a combination of telegram and letter sent by the Post Office. The Royal Household took the opportunity presented by the changed format to create a special card in which the telemessage would be inserted. A design showing a Royal coach, indicating the nature and the provenance of the message was approved by The Queen, and the messages have been sent out in cards ever since.
In 1989, the original telemessage card was discontinued in favour of four different cards, one for each country in the United Kingdom. One design showed Killyleagh Castle, another Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse appeared for Scottish recipients, and Caernarvon Castle for the Welsh.
Other designs followed until the Telemessage was replaced with a straightforward card in 1999, featuring a photograph of The Queen on the front which is unique to that card. The cover image is changed every four years to ensure that it looks as fresh and up to date as possible, and so that those who are lucky enough to receive multiple cards are not sent duplicates.
The wording in the messages has also changed over the years. Initially, the message did not come from the Monarch, but from the Private Secretary of the time on their behalf. A message from 1919 sends, ‘His Majesty’s hope that the blessings of good health and prosperity may attend you during the remainder of your days.’
During The Queen’s reign, however, the messages were given a personal touch, with Her Majesty’s signature appearing on every card since 1999. The wording has changed subtley over the current reign so that recipients of more than one card do not receive exactly the same greeting again. The text on the current card is generally not made public, to retain the element of surprise for those who have yet to receive their special greeting from The Queen.
Who is eligible to receive a card? The criteria for receiving a card have remained as they were in 1917. Centenarians are eligible for a card on their birthday and become eligible again when they reach the age of 105, then every year thereafter. The Anniversaries Office are made aware of centenarians by the Department for Work and Pensions, but also encourage friends, family or the centenarian themselves to contact the office to ensure that the details which they have are correct. Relevant documentation, such as a birth certificate is sometimes required.
Buckingham Palace sends cards out to recipients in the United Kingdom only, but centenarians living in UK overseas territories and realms are also eligible and can apply to the relevant Governors-General office.
Special birthday greetings Occasionally, messages have been sent to well-known or unusual recipients, perhaps the most famous of which was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who received an official 100th birthday greeting from her daughter in 2000. Comedian Bob Hope received a private message from The Queen on his 100th birthday in 2003 whilst the former ballerina Dame Ninette de Valois received a message wishing her ‘a very happy day’ in June 1998.
In May 2002, an event in Israel was held to celebrate Israel’s 600 centenarians, inspired by the custom of The Queen’s birthday messages. A message from The Queen was sent to the guests, saying:
‘I am delighted to be able to send my very best wishes on the occasion of this morning’s celebration to honour the centenarians of Israel.’
Whoever the recipient, reaching the age of 100 is always an extraordinary achievement, and one which the Royal Family will continue to mark in this very special way for many years to come. |
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