UDINE – Britain’s King Charles III has sent birthday wishes to Italian former SOE agent Paola Del Din for her 100^th birthday, UK Ambassador Edward Llewellyn has said, recalling her courageous service in the Second World War.

 Ms Del Din served as a partisan and parachutist trained by the Special Operations Executive and was the first Italian woman parachutist who jumped into enemy occupied territory during wartime, a feat that has never been repeated.

 Lord Llewellyn said that “Today the Italian former SOE agent Paola Del Din turned 100. This morning, I was honoured to write to Signora Del Din, passing on the birthday wishes of His Majesty The King.”

 “I called on Signora Del Din recently at her home in Udine to thank her for her courageous service in WW2.”

 jp