ROYALIST Anita Atkinson's passion for the House of Windsor has earned her a meeting with the Queen Mother.

The magistrate and mother-of-three from Fir Tree, in County Durham, has a date with the Queen Mother in London on November 1 - thanks to The Northern Echo.

Anita is bidding for the title of the royal family's biggest fan, and marked the birthday of Britain's best-loved centenarian earlier this month by showing readers her collection of souvenirs.

She owns about 1,200 items, which does not include a huge library of newspapers and magazine articles. She has also read more than 300 books on royalty.

Guinness Book of Record officials are considering whether her collection merits official recognition as the biggest collection of Royal memorabilia.

After reading of the extent of her passion, Anita's former colleague on the Bishop Auckland bench, Virginia Trotter, came up with a way of setting up a meeting.

She has included her in a group from the Queen Mary's Clothing Guild, delivering garments from donors in the Northern region to the Queen Mother at St James' Palace.

The Queen Mother used to knit for the guild during both world wars and encouraged her household to join in. She was carrying on a tradition started during Victoria's reign of providing socks for Britain's troops.

Despite her advanced years, she still shows her support for the guild by meeting members from all 16 divisional groups as they hand over clothing to national and local charities.

Mrs Trotter said: "The Queen Mother and her corgis always come to meet us, and all the friends who have worked for us.

"She is a great supporter and spends a lot of time walking among us.

"It is the ideal chance for Anita to meet her.

"She knitted socks herself during both wars, as did other members of her household. She still takes an enormous interest in what we do."

Anita said last night: "I feel as though I have been given the Crown Jewels. I am ecstatic.

"I can't wait until November 1. Thank you to The Northern Echo."