Royal nanny treated to Queen's cruise

Britain's Queen Elizabeth personally invited Mabel Anderson, the former royal nanny who looked after her four children, to join her on her summer holiday cruise.

The former nanny of Britain's Queen Elizabeth's children has been invited to attend a summer cruise with the royal family.

Mabel Anderson - who looked after Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward when they were young - was personally invited by the monarch to join her for her summer holiday on the Princess Royal converted ferry, for a tour of the Western Isles of Scotland.

Discussing the trip, which began last week, a royal aide told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "It's intended as a real treat for her - a 'thank you' for her commitment to the royal family."

The 83 year old was employed by Elizabeth as an assistant nanny in 1949 when she was 22, and remained with the family until she retired in 1981.

Mabel has remained loyal towards the royals for over 60 years, is regularly invited to events including exclusive birthday celebrations and is said to be extremely close to Charles.

After her retirement, Charles supervised the redecoration of a wing in Frogmore House, Windsor Great Park for Mabel to use as a lifelong grace-and-favour home.

The trip is expected to end early this week at the Castle of Mey on the coast of Caithness, Scotland - where the Queen's Mother used to live - with a lunch hosted by Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.