A North East nun who went viral online and was asked to audition for Britain's Got Talent is among those invited to meet the King in Durham on Thursday.
Sister Josepha Matthews, a member of the Sisters of Mercy convent in Sunderland, is among the 76 women and 76 men invited by King Charles III to attend the Maundy Thursday service at Durham Cathedral on April 17.
She will receive special money from the King at the historic service, which dates back to the medieval period and is based on the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus.
Describing the invitation as 'humbling' she said it will not be the first time that she has shared in a royal visit.
"I didn't meet the Prince, but the girls who I was looking after were shouting for him and we went to the road out of the island so we could see them leave.
"He nodded at us."
Sister Josepha has not made a habit of meeting royalty, saying: "I've not met any of the royal family personally, but I have met other royalty like Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer and Declan Donnelly!"
And she almost featured in Donnelly's TV show Britain's Got Talent after going viral on social media.
(Image: Duncan Lomax) Members of the Sisters of Mercy convent took to the streets during the regular 'clap for carers' events during the Covid lockdown to play music to entertain the street and passers-by.
Clips of the sisters took off on social media and were picked up by news outlets across the country and even across the pond - with news coverage on CNN of the singing habit-wearers broadcast to Americans.
"We were asked to go on Britain's Got Talent after singing during lockdown, it was quite touching," Sister Josepha said.
However, getting her more frail sisters down to London to record proved difficult and the convent ultimately decided against taking up the invite.
King Charles will be in Durham on Thursday April 17 for a Maundy service at Durham Cathedral. He will attend with Queen Camilla.
