Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery has achieved his dream of performing for the royal family after serving the Queen in the military for 25 years.
Colin, 89, is a Korean War veteran who sang in memory of his late wife Joan, and will now sing at the Royal Variety Performance after winning Britain's Got Talent 2019.
Colin stole the nation's hearts in the contest by performing classics Wind Beneath My Wings and Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again idressed in his red uniform and showcasing his medals.
He tugged on heartstrings as images of him with Joan, who died from breast cancer in 2016, were screened behind him. And in the final he belted out Love Changes Everything from the musical Aspects Of Love.
In second place was the mysterious illusionist X, who was unmasked in the final as Marc Spellman from last year's contest.
Paying tribute to Colin he said: "He's given his life for us and I bow to him I have deepest respect. He deserves to win."
Asked by Ant and Dec how he was feeling, he replied: "Absolutely astonished. I'm stuck for words for a change. Absolutely fantastic."
"Plot Twist, Colin is X," joked one viewer on Twitter.
"I fall more and more in love with Colin every time he sings... So happy he won, just amazing," said another.
"COLIN WON BRITAINS GOT TALENT IM SO HAPPY," cheered another fan.
And another said: "I just cried at Colin winning... couldn’t be any more perfect. what a moment."
Colin was urged to get involved with music while serving with the Royal Artillery's 45th Regiment.
