A village has double cause to celebrate today.

Aside from yuletide festivities, December 25 also marks the 106th birthday of the so-called Queen of Borough Green, Gladys Banks.

The “amazing” matriarch, who has lived in the same house for 40 years, lives independently and regularly gets her nails done and hair permed and attends a lunch club every Thursday and Friday.

She says the key to a long life is being happy.

Gladys is spending the big day with niece Tina Robson, 60, who said: “The village likes to celebrate her as the Queen of Borough Green, so she gets lots of visitors.

“Last year they came to her on the street and sang to her.”

The last two years, the village has collected Gladys a hamper and given it to her while singing happy birthday.

Gladys said: “It is a lovely village to live in. I’m so lucky, people are kind.”

She added: “When I was a child I used to get one present and they’d say ‘that’ll do for Christmas and birthday’ and I wasn’t happy with that.

“But as I got older we said ‘the Queen celebrates two birthdays’ so in April we used to hold a little celebration for me too.”

This year she received a card from the new King, Charles III.

She said: “I was thrilled because I like Charles, I’ve always liked him – Charlie is my darling.”

Gladys, who used to work for a London pharmaceutical company, has eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

She has witnessed many significant historical events in her life, and seen five monarchs and 21 prime ministers.

One significant event that resonated with her was the day Neville Chamberlain announced the start of the Second World War.

She said: "I always remember Chamberlain coming over the radio and saying 'we are at war with Germany' – it seemed to silence the nation.

"We were expecting it but you hoped it wouldn't happen.

"It's funny– you live through so much and you don't realise it."

On her secret to living to 106, she said: “Just take care of yourself and don’t over-indulge in anything, though I have done a few times.

“But keep yourself happy, stay happy, as that goes a long way.”

She said: “I’m a happy person, I try not to let things worry me.

“I’m worried about the electric and gas going up but I always think we’ll get by somehow.

“I don’t quarrel with people and I love going out.”

Another monthly appointment is Gladys’s all-over body massage which she is adamant is a big factor in her good health.

She said: “I know I’m not a spring chicken any more but what keeps me so nimble are those massages. I think they should be on the National Health.”

Gladys also indulges in a Baileys or whisky now and again and said she quit her 20-a-day smoking habit aged 68.

Today, she will receive double the presents and sets separate time aside to distinguish between her birthday and Christmas gifts.

She has already had one celebration, with her lunch club, which included a three-course meal at the Great Danes Hotel near Leeds Castle, Maidstone, and entertainment from an Abba tribute act, one of Gladys' favourite bands.

She got involved with the club firstly through volunteering and serving members lunches – at the age of 90.

She said: "I was serving one day and one lady said to me 'when you get to my age you won't be skipping about like that'.

"I asked 'how old are you?' she said '60 something' and I said 'well I'm 90' and she couldn't believe it.

"But I really was quite active and it's only recently I have gotten a little bit dependent."

One of those who keeps an eye on Gladys is Taylor Rothwell, who works at Nisa Local in the High Street.

He has known her for around four years.

"Everyone who knows her calls her 'Glads'," he explained. "It's amazing, she still lives independently.

"Once a week she has a cleaner round, but does her own washing and makes her dinners.

"We have a good bond and she is such a lovely lady."

Gladys said: "He's ever so good to me and looks after me a lot.

"He's always popping in every day sometimes even on days he isn't working.

"He is worth his weight in gold, he is a superstar."