William and Kate pay tribute to Britain’s oldest skydiver on 102nd birthday: ‘We are not surprised!’
Prince William and Princess Kate paid tribute to Britain’s oldest skydiver on her 102nd birthday.
The Prince of Wales has hailed the generosity of a World War Two veteran who will be marking her 102nd birthday with a charity skydive in aid of his former air ambulance trust.
The prince, 42, wrote a personal letter to Manette Baillie, who will become Britain’s oldest parachutist when she makes the skydive on Sunday.
Baillie, from Benhall, Suffolk, is raising money for several causes, including the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service where William piloted a helicopter between 2015 and 2017.
William and Kate pay tribute to Britain’s oldest skydiver on 102nd birthday: ‘We are not surprised!’Getty
In a surprise letter ahead of her birthday, the prince wrote: “From my time with East Anglian Air Ambulance, I know how many lives are saved due to the generosity of people like you.
“We will be thinking of you on August 25, and hope you have a great time.”
It comes after Baillie, who served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens) during World War Two, celebrated her 100th birthday by taking a Ferrari for a 130mph spin around Silverstone.
As reported by The Telegraph, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to Baillie, writing: “Catherine and I hear you will be marking your 102nd birthday next week with a parachute jump!
Manette Baillie is celebrating her 102nd birthday
“Knowing you celebrated your 100th birthday by racing a Ferrari around Silverstone, we are not surprised. I cannot wait to hear what you will do for your 103rd birthday!”
GB News has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
Speaking ahead of her birthday on Wednesday, Baillie said: “I had to be 102 before I dare do the dive.
“I wanted the charities to represent something close to my heart and when my son had a bad accident and had to be airlifted, it was a helicopter that took him.”
Prince William wrote the letter to Manette Baillie which she called a ‘surprise’
Prince William and Kate are currently enjoying the summer holidays with their three children
Baillie continued to tell The Telegraph that the letter from William came as a “complete surprise” to her and insisted that despite the attention, she was “not given to nerves” ahead of Sunday’s jump.
“I think to myself, the most dangerous thing to do is get on a horse and in my youth I’m sure the things I did with livestock were much more dangerous than this,” she said.
She will also be supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association with the money raised from the skydive, as well as helping to renovate her local Benhall Village Club.
The community hub was originally built for returning World War Two soldiers and Baillie wants to ensure future veterans receive a warm welcome.
