Prince Charles told a business owner she'd "been doing her research" on him after she gave him an early birthday card during a royal awards ceremony.
The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex were among the members of the monarchy who welcomed the organisations to Windsor Castle for the Queen's Enterprise Awards.
The accolades are among the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winners allowed to use the emblem for five years, and many report it boosts their profile and access to new markets.
Charles, who celebrates his 73rd birthday on Sunday, received an early birthday card from Jo Taylor, owner of Reach and Rescue, a company making telescopic rescue poles for first responders.
Ms Taylor, whose company was recognised in the innovation category, said: "The prince laughed and said, 'You've been doing your research on me', and he slipped the card into his left pocket.
"The award is real recognition for what we make and it has saved so many lives, that's the important thing. People go into shock when they enter cold water and our poles are life savers."
Among the guests were representatives from 205 business winners from 2021 and 220 recognised last year for their contributions in four categories: international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
Charles, Anne and Sophie were joined by the Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra to mingle with the company bosses, as did Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.
Among the firms recognised were Luminary Bakery, a London-based baking business and cafe established in 2014 to help women in deprived areas of the capital through a range of issues including long-term unemployment and domestic abuse.
Another was the Community Shop in Barnsley, South Yorkshire - a social enterprise offering surplus food from big chain shops and supermarkets to disadvantaged customers at discounted prices - and Glencraft Mattresses, a Scottish firm based in Aberdeen for more than 170 years, which uses sustainable, ethically sourced materials.
Just last month, the Queen was up for an award which she “politely but firmly” turned down.
The 95-year-old monarch graciously declined the Oldie of the Year Awards because she "didn't believe she met the relevant criteria" to accept.
In her response, she said “you are only as old as you feel”.
Author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, chairman of the awards, wrote to her private secretary Sir Edward Young to ask if she would accept the main Oldie of the Year.
But in a letter published in the November issue of the magazine, her assistant private secretary Tom Laing-Baker wrote: “Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such The Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient.”
As she approaches her Platinum Jubilee next year, the Queen has been on sparkling form in recent months, entertaining world leaders, attending the races and mastering the very modern ritual of the video call.
This year, her daughter-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall has joined Gyles Brandreth for the publication’s first in-person awards ceremony since 2019 at The Savoy Hotel in London.
For the past 29 years, The Oldie of The Year Awards has celebrated the achievements of those of the older generation who have made a special contribution to public life.
Previous winners have included everyone from Oscar winners to Nobel laureates, from community care nurses to veteran athletes, from Sir John Major to Dame Olivia de Havilland and David Hockney.
