Special coin for Hendon woman who shares Queen's birthday (From Times Series)

Special coin for Hendon woman who shares Queen's birthday

11:23am Wednesday 28th July 2010

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A RETIRED headteacher born on the same day as the Queen has been presented with a unique commemorative coin by the London Mint Office.

Patricia Diamond, 84, has been given a 2010 Vivat Regina sterling silver crown.

Miss Diamond, who grew up in Hendon, has been given number two in the series of the limited edition coin - and Her Majesty has been given number one.

The Vivat Regina features two gold accented circles, one showing the date it was struck by the London Mint Office, 21 April 2010, and the other the date the two women were born, 21 April 1926.

Miss Diamond, who now lives in Hillingdon, said: "First of all I was amazed to be given this coin, then delighted, and grateful - privileged, if you like. Somebody told me I’m going to have to leave it in my will."

Tim Banks, head of customer experience for the London Mint Office, said: “The Vivat Regina is a very special coin.

"We are very pleased to have been able to present the first two crowns to Her Majesty and Miss Diamond. We hope that other collectors will find the rest of the series just as appealing."

Miss Diamond said she has been following the Queen from the very start of both of their lives. Every year on April 21, her mother would buy her a newspaper so she could see what Princess Elizabeth had received for her birthday.

She said: "I’d think, 'she’s got a pony, and I’ve just got an orange'. I didn’t envy her, but I did always want to know what she had got."

Miss Diamond first saw the future Queen on VE Day at the end of World War II when the royal family came out on to the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to the vast crowds celebrating peace.

"It was very exciting," said Patricia, who had specially returned to London from Liverpool, where at that time she was training to be a teacher.

Miss Diamond eventually went on to become a successful headteacher, setting up the first Roman Catholic primary school in Bushey, Hertfordshire.

Although Miss Diamond never married, she said: “The Queen has only had four children, but I’ve had hundreds, so I feel I’ve done my bit."

After Miss Diamond retired, she finally got to meet the Queen face to face at one of the parties arranged for Her Majesty’s 80th birthday.

Of the meeting, she said: "That was lovely. She was very understanding, very pleasant and very natural. It was great."

Miss Diamong added: "It’s a long time since I asked the question ‘What’s she got?’ and whatever we get these days I’m sure we’re both content. But, I have to say, I never thought I’d get a gift as similar as this coin. It’s a real treat."

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