King presents medals to Kenyan ex-soldier – one of oldest WWII veterans

The King has presented replacement medals to a Kenyan who is believed to be one of the world's oldest surviving veterans of the Second World War.

Charles handed the five medals to former corporal Samweli Mburia during a poignant ceremony where other old soldiers who fought for the United Kingdom also received duplicates of their original awards.

Mr Mburia is thought to be 117 years old and, when he told Charles his great age, the King replied: "I think you must have been living on wild honey and locusts."

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Many Kenyans who served with the British threw away or hid their medals during the Mau Mau uprising against colonial rule in the 1950s, for fear of being accused of being British collaborators.

Charles shook the hand of the elderly veteran, thanked him for his service and then lightened the mood by telling him: "I hope all the right ones are there."

Specialist medal auctioneer Spink & Son sourced the 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Burma Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal for Mr Mburia who served in Egypt, Abyssinia and Burma with the Royal Engineers.

The presentation ceremony was held at a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Nairobi where Charles and Camilla attended a short act of remembrance, with the King laying a wreath.

At one point Charles tripped on one of the many large squares of artificial grass covering the site, as there had been persistent rain over the past few days, but he quickly steadied himself.

Mr Mburia's daughter, Idah Kagweni, 54, described the mood among Kenya's ex-military personnel as the struggle to end British rule became violent.

"They were fearful to be found with those medals because of the Mau Mau," she said.

"During that time some of them threw them in the sea or they hid them and don't know where they hid them."

The veteran, speaking through his daughter, said: "I am so happy and proud to be receiving my medals from the King."