A COUPLE'S diamond wedding anniversary celebrations were complete when they received a surprise card from the Queen.

The Queen sends greetings to people celebrating special occasions if the Palace is notified in advance by friends or relatives.

George Watts said: "I don't know who arranged it but we were very excited to get the card, especially as it is Her Majesty's Jubilee year.

"The Queen wrote how pleased she was that we were celebrating our diamond wedding, and also wished us many more happy years together."

Mr and Mrs Watts, who are both in their eighties, live in Lodmoor, Weymouth and tied the knot 60 years ago.

Their son, David, 56, is married and works in a hospital in Reading, where his parents met.

Joan Watts said: "I met George one day as we were travelling by train to Reading.

"He lived in my village, and was very friendly with my brother.

"It was not love at first sight, but many years later we began courting and he asked me to marry him.

"I would say the secret of our long and happy marriage is the fact we have always tried to share things with each other."

Her husband agreed, and added: "I think if one word sums up a happy marriage it is sharing, and that is something Joan and I have strived to do all these years."

The couple moved to Weymouth in 1954, where they ran the M&M's newsagent's shop on Abbotsbury Road, Westham, until retiring in 1983.

Mr and Mrs Watts celebrated their anniversary by inviting all their friends to an 'at home' party.

George said: "We asked everybody we could think of to come along and share a glass of wine and a piece of cake with us."