THE HUNTERS felt like royalty on their diamond wedding anniversary when their special day was shared with the Queen herself.

Devoted grandparents-of-four Ruth and Colin, of Bollinbarn Drive, Macclesfield, were thrilled to celebrate their 60-year union on November 22, with a card from HM Elizabeth II, who reached the landmark with the Duke of Edinburgh just two days earlier.

Army veteran Colin, 85, said: "The card was great – a real surprise to get an envelope marked ‘Buckingham Palace’.

"I thought at first I might be receiving a knighthood, and the postman was intrigued."

Colin, who at one year Ruth’s junior describes himself as her ‘toy boy’, added: "It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years – it seems like 100.

"No, I’m only joking, I think the secret for us has just been being together."

The couple did not quite make it to Malta to celebrate their six decade union, like Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh – but they did travel to Congleton, where 20 guests helped them enjoy a special lunch.

Ruth, 86, who served in the Royal Army ATS, and was later a Singer embroiderer, added: "Our granddaughter made us a lovely cake too.

"I am really honoured to share the Queen’s anniversary, and she looks lovely and smiley on the card. I think our secret has been give and take."

The card, signed by HM Elizabeth II – the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding anniversary – reads: "Philip and I are pleased to share this special year with you". It had extra meaning as the lovebirds travelled to London for their honeymoon – Ruth’s first visit to the the city – while the royal couple took their first tentative steps in the Broadlands, Hampshire.

"We queued for hours to see the monarch’s wedding register – but we couldn’t miss it," chuckled Colin.

The sprightly pensioner, who served in North Africa, Italy, and Germany as a Grenadier Guard, met Ruth at Macclesfield Central School when they were just 13, and love blossomed as they grew older.

The retired Macclesfield Electricity Corporation worker, who wed his bride at Christ Church, Macclesfield, added: "When I went away with the war we said I’d write, and neither of us actually thought we would, but we kept in touch and when I came back I thought we had best get engaged – so we did."