King sends birthday card to Britain's oldest man who turned 110 on Christmas Eve

Britain’s oldest man has received a card from Buckingham Palace to mark his 110th birthday.

The King sent a birthday card to Second World War veteran Donald Rose, who marked the milestone on Christmas Eve.

Donald was born in 1914 and served on the front line with the 7th Armoured Division.

He joined the Queen's Royal Regiment aged 25, and served in North Africa and Europe before training as a sniper. He survived a bullet to the leg.

To mark his birthday, the Canal Vue care home in Ilkeston in Derbyshire held a wartime-themed party.

Residents and guests were treated to dancing and singing by Katie Ashby from Britain’s Got Talent performers "The D-Day Darlings", with Donald even joining in with the dancing.

"A true national treasure"

Councillor Kate Fennelly, the Mayor of Erewash, was among those at the party. She served in the RAF and described Donald as “amazing and wonderful”.

She said “Donald is a lovely character – and a true national treasure. The borough is proud to cherish him as its most senior resident.”

Donald's birthday cake was in the shape of a tank.

He jokingly puts his longevity down to salty water he had to drink during his time as a Desert Rat.

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Donald also stood to give a rendition of a poignant song he wrote to mark the end of the war.

Donald's carer Naomi Allsop, says she's hoping the lyrics he wrote can be turned into a single.

She said “I would love for him to make it into an actual song with music if there’s anyoneinterested to make it happen?”