How To Get Your 60th Wedding Anniversary Letter
From
The King & Queen Consort And The President

The 60th wedding anniversary letter from the King & Queen Consort started in 1917 by King George V of England when he sent congratulatory messages to his subjects who were celebrating their 100th birthdays and their 60th wedding anniversaries.

The tradition lived on with each succeeding monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who herself also celebrated her Diamond Anniversary held on to the tradition.

Today this tradition has moved on to King Charles III.

A diamond wedding anniversary letter from the King is more of a greeting card than a letter.

The congratulatory letter initially did not come from the reigning monarch but from the Private Secretary of the time in behalf of the Sovereign. A sample congratulatory message during the reign of King George V read:

His Majesty's hope that the blessings of good health and prosperity may attend you during the remainder of your days.

The congratulatory messages were sent as telegrams by the Royal Mail's Inland Telegram Service. In the 1940s the messages were renamed as Royal Court Telegrams with a Royal Crest evident on the top page.

At the start of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, colourful templates were designed and used to change every so often to keep up with new fashion and tastes. This was discontinued in the 1980s and was replaced by a combination telegram and message sent through by British Telecom. From then on, all congratulatory messages were in the form of a special card stamped with the Royal Coat of Arms and the Royal Mail Coach.

When are Congratulatory Messages Issued?

The King sends out 60th wedding anniversary letters to couples celebrating such an occasion. Greetings are also sent out on a couple's 65th and 70th wedding anniversary and every year after. The card's design and format are changed every 5 years in case there are repeat recipients.

Congratulatory messages are also sent out to those celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays and every year thereafter. The current message printed on the card is generally not publicized to keep the element of surprise.

Since 1999, the Queen's signature appeared on every card sent out. Even the Queen's mother (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) received her 100th birthday congratulatory card from her daughter Elizabeth, the Queen, in 2000.

Who is Eligible to Receive A 60th Wedding Anniversary Letter From The King and Queen?

Only citizens of the United Kingdom Realms and UK Overseas Territories where the King is head of state are entitled to receive such cards including 60th wedding anniversary letter from the King.

The Realms are: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Papua New Guinea, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuvalu, Barbados, Grenada, Solomon Islands, St Lucia and The Bahamas and UK and Northern Ireland. The UK Overseas Territories are: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, St Helena and St Helena Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and The Turks & Caicos Islands.

How to Receive a Congratulatory Message

To receive a 60th wedding anniversary letter from the King and Queen Consort or a 100th birthday greeting from the King and Queen Consort you can download a form online and submit the application online at least 21 days before the occasion to designated offices.

A photocopy of the marriage certificate or birth certificate is needed for authentication.

If you live in UK, you can submit the application form by post directly to the Anniversaries Office at Buckingham Palace.

The Anniversaries Office,

Buckingham Palace,

London SW1A 1AA

Tel. 0207 930 4832

Please be aware that the Anniversaries Office won't accept any applications by courier.

Once you have applied, acknowledgement receipt will be issued in confirmation that you will receive a message from the King and Queen Consort your documents returned.

If you don't have a copy of the marriage certificate you can also apply by phone.

In England and Wales you can phone the General Register Office on  0300 123 1837 who will be able to confirm the Anniversary.

In Scotland you can phone the National Records Office on 0131 314 4488.

In Northern Ireland you can phone the General Register Office Belfast on 028 9025 2000.

Do you have to pay for a card from the King and Queen Consort?

There is no charge for the card from the King and Queen Consort for your 60th Anniversary.

However, there is a charge for the official frame for your card which comes with spaces for the card, tassel and photograph of the King and Queen Consort.

You don't have to have the frame to order an Anniversary message from the King and Queen Consort.

Can You Apply After The 60th Anniversary Date?

You can apply for your Anniversary message from the King and Queen Consort up to six months after the Anniversary.

Congratulatory Anniversary Message From The President

If you live in the United States and are a citizen, the White House issues out congratulatory cards to those celebrating important occasions.

You can write to the White House Greetings Office to make your request.

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C.

20500

Anniversary Cards from the President are available for

• 50th Anniversary
• 60th Anniversary
• 70th Anniversary or greater

It is worth noting that the Greetings Card office is swamped at the moment and they are promising that the cards will arrive eventually! It will be best to send your request as soon as possible, several months in advance to hopefully receive your card on time.

In your application you will need to advise them of 

1. The names of the Anniversary couple
2. Name and address of the couple
3. Information on yourself
4. If they have been in the military
5. Date of their Wedding

We deliver Anniversary Gifts to USA & UK, Europe, Australia