A woman who celebrated her 100^th birthday by dining with king Willem-Alexander in the royal palace in Amsterdam two weeks ago has died.

Ernestine Richardson-Bryan was exactly twice as old as the monarch when she met him as one of 150 special guests invited to mark his 50^th birthday on April 27. Her family said she passed away a week later on Liberation Day last Friday (May 5).

Her daughter, Yvette, said Mrs Richardson-Bryan had been determined to attend despite her fading health, which had left her bedridden. She was taken by ambulance to the palace from the care home in Brunssum where she lived, with a police escort for the last stage of the journey.

‘She was fully aware of what was going on and enjoyed every minute of her royal reception,’ her daughter told the Telegraaf. ‘My mother wanted to live life to the full and this was the fulfilment of her final wish.’