This week, Tony spoke of his thoughts on the occasion: “The King looked very well and was relaxed and really was the life and soul of the party.
“It was a real shock to hear next day he was in hospital.”
Tony was a guest at a lavish Buckingham Palace reception to celebrate the work of local media across the UK and stress Royal support for provincial journalism and its important role in the local community.
During the evening, the King and Queen, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, met many of the 400 guests, who included senior executives and industry leaders, among them Scott Wood, managing director of Tindle Newspapers, owner of the Free Press.
In a statement the King said: “I have long believed that the regional media in all its forms has a vital part to play, even more so in these uncertain times.”
At 89 years old and believed to be England’s oldest full-time journalist, Tony was included in a pre-reception personal meeting with the Royal party.
Also in the line-up were Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Lisa Nandy, her Under-Secretary Stephanie Peacock, and the BBC’s longest-serving TV presenter Sally Taylor, on-screen for nearly 40 years.
Tony, third in the pre-reception line-up, shook hands with the King, who asked how long his journalistic career had been.
He said: “When I said it was 73 years, the King replied ‘long may it continue!’
“I couldn’t resist adding ‘the only reason I am here today is that I haven’t actually died!’
“To which, the King replied ‘I’m pleased about that! We’re very proud of you’.”
The Duchess of Gloucester said she always enjoyed visiting Exmoor with its unspoiled and varied scenery but acknowledged there were problems with job opportunities and lack of affordable housing which had to be resolved.
The Duke of Gloucester asked Tony about his career, which involved national and local newspapers.
He was interested in hearing how newspaper production had changed from the ‘hot metal’ days of seven decades ago, and said he felt there should still be a place for local weekly papers, particularly in rural areas where the population was elderly and perhaps did not have access to digital news.
The King recalled a speech he had made in 2002 pointing out that the press was in the forefront of ‘defining, describing, and celebrating’ the more profound values of our nation.
King Charles said: “Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your industry is more important than ever – and it starts from ground-up, at local level.”
Describing his visit to the Palace as ‘a somewhat surreal experience’, Tony said: “When, as a young reporter, I covered the Coronation celebrations in 1953 I did wonder if I would ever actually have a chance to meet the Royal family.
“It’s been an awfully long time coming!”