AN OVERJOYED pensioner said meeting and greeting the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles was "better than winning the pools".Dorothy Edwards, 77, managed to kiss Mrs Parker Bowles on the hand at Sandringham Flower Show yesterday – and said she was only disappointed not to do the same to the Prince.

By Jonathan Barnes

AN OVERJOYED pensioner said meeting and greeting the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles was "better than winning the pools".

Dorothy Edwards, 77, managed to kiss Mrs Parker Bowles on the hand at Sandringham Flower Show yesterday – and said she was only disappointed not to do the same to the Prince.

"I don't feel 77 today. It was the most magical moment of my life, better than winning the pools," she said last night

Mrs Edwards, from Haughley, near Stowmarket, was visiting the show on a day trip with her husband Fred.

She decided to show her appreciation for the couple by stepping over a rope cordon to greet them – and Mrs Parker Bowles seemed delighted and amused by the gesture.

"I saw Mr Charles first and said hello to him, I didn't shake his hand like I would like to have done – I missed out on that one," she said.

"Mrs Parker Bowles came round the corner and I said 'excuse me, may I shake your hand?' She said 'certainly' so I did.

"We had a teeny conversation and I told her she smelt very nice. She said 'thank you very much' and I kissed her on the hand."

Mrs Edwards added: "I did think later that I didn't have my teeth in – but then again I haven't got any anyway.

"She wasn't hoity-toity at all – she was an ordinary person just like you or me, which was very nice. I don't know half what I said to her because I was so excited."

The Royal enthusiast, who ended her trip with tea in Hunstanton, said she thought Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles "should be together".

She added: "They looked very nice together and they seemed in tune with each other. But I don't think they should get married just yet. They should have a decent courtship."

It was the second time in two years that Mrs Parker Bowles had accompanied the Prince to the event, stepping into the shoes of the Queen Mother.

She received a warm welcome from Royal watchers as she toured the grounds of the prestigious show, held annually in the grounds of the Queen's Royal residence in Norfolk.

The Prince and Mrs Parker Bowles arrived at the show together but maintained a careful distance as they toured the grounds.

Mrs Parker Bowles walked 20 yards behind the Prince and was not introduced to the show's committee with him on arrival.

The couple spent more than an hour at the show, which is organised by the Sandringham Estate Horticultural Society and has been running for more than 120 years.