THE closest Valerie Everson came to royalty was when the Queen swept past in her chauffeured car on a visit to Newcastle in the 1970s.

But the mother-of-three, who was born on the day when Her Majesty took the throne in February 6, 1952, will get a chance for a closer look if she receives an invitation to attend a garden party next July.

The Queen is inviting people born on her Accession Day to one of two parties at Buckingham Palace, in London, and Holyroodhouse Palace, in Edinburgh.

Valerie, born at Newcastle General Infirmary, is one of an estimated 3,000 Accession Day babies who could receive an invitation to the parties by handing their birth certificates into their local Lord-Lieutenant's office.

She said: "I imagined The Queen would do something special, but I never thought it would involve people born on the same day," she said. "I think the closest I've ever been to royalty was when she came to visit Newcastle in the 1970s and I watched the car go past me. I'd love to meet her."

Valerie works as an archives officer at Durham County Hall, so will not have far to hand in her nomination for an invitation - the office of the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Sir Paul Nicholson, is along the corridor.

She has three children, Kate, 21, Sara, 19 and Robin, 15, and lives in Pittington, near Durham City.

For those born in England, applications for the Buckingham Palace party, on Tuesday, July 9, must be in by January 31. The party for Scottish born babies, will be at Holyroodhouse Palace, on Saturday, May 25. A draw may be held to determine who receives invitations.