AS she thumbed through the stack of letters on her doormat, Lilian Wright's eyes flicked over two words that made her heart skip a beat – Buckingham Palace.

The words, stamped on to a simple, plain white envelope, set her mind racing.

Lilian hurried upstairs to show her daughter the envelope and, as she skimmed over the letter inside, she let out a stunned gasp.

In only a matter of weeks, she would be shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth II.

"I just couldn't believe what I was reading and I had to go over the letter a few times before it even started to sink in," said the 81-year-old.

"I don't think it has fully sunk in even now. When I saw the words Buckingham Palace, I thought, 'what have I done?'

"My daughter, Judith, and I read it over and over that morning, and everybody I've told since has been so thrilled.

"I think when my next phone bill arrives it will be a mile long because I was ringing so many people and telling them all about it."

Lilian, of Crook Stile, Matlock, is one of 168 pensioners to be invited to the Royal Maundy ceremony which takes place at Derby Cathedral on April 1.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will hand out purses of money during the ceremony which commemorates the Last Supper.

Royal Maundy was established by King John in 1210 and used to be held every year in London, when the Sovereign would hand money, food or clothing to the poor.

But early in her reign Queen Elizabeth II decided that the ceremony should be held in a different location every year – this is the first time it is being held in Derby.

The number of people receiving gifts coincides with the Queen's age – so 84 men and 84 women will be handed purses at the ceremony.

The recipients were nominated to Buckingham Palace for their services to the community and church.

Lilian said: "After reading the letter a few times, the only thing I could think was, 'why me?'

"I do some charity work – you just do things for people to help them out, and you don't ever think of it as working."

Some of Lilian's charity work includes volunteering with the Mothers' Union at St Giles' Church, in Matlock, which supports families with young children.

She acted as the group's treasurer for about 20 years before taking over as the branch leader.

That role is only supposed to last for six years – but Lilian enjoys the post so much that she has stayed in it for 13.

"It's brilliant to feel that the work I do is being recognised but that's not why I do it – I just enjoy helping others.

"Being invited to the Royal Maundy ceremony is a fantastic honour for me."

The Derby Telegraph would like to hear from anyone who has been invited to take part.

They can contact reporter Jonny Birkin on Derby 291111 extension 6422, or e-mail jbir kin@derbytelegraph.co.uk.