A woman who has celebrated her 102nd birthday says the secret to a long and happy life is simple – work hard and enjoy plenty of holidays.

And Peggy Green had some suitably royal company for the occasion, with “King Charles” making a surprise appearance at her birthday celebrations at Hindhead Place Care Home.

The 102-year-old, who was born and raised in Godalming and is a keen admirer of the Royal Family, was delighted when a royal impersonator arrived to help mark her milestone.

Wellbeing coach Janice Bayer said: “Peggy thought it was brilliant when King Charles turned up and she had a lovely time celebrating her birthday.”

Looking back over more than a century, Peggy credited a combination of hard work and adventure for keeping her going.

She said: “What’s my secret to a long, happy life? Just being me!

“But seriously, you should work hard at school, take exams, work hard at work, and enjoy life – especially holidays!”

Peggy worked as a managing supervisor for a power company but made sure she found plenty of time to see the world.

Her travels took her as far as South Africa and the Far East, with Peggy documenting her adventures through her love of photography.

Closer to home, she has always been passionate about gardening, nature and ornithology, and remains a devoted animal lover.

One of her favourite visitors is Molly, a dog belonging to her friend Sue.

Janice said: “Peggy’s favourite animal in the whole world is Molly, her friend Sue’s dog.

“She lights up when Molly comes to visit, which is just lovely to see. Peggy is a fantastic lady with an incredible number of stories about her many adventures.

“We all feel very privileged to have helped her mark this amazing milestone.”