The Queen and Prince Philip began their diamond wedding anniversary celebrations last night at a party hosted by Prince Charles.

Around 20 of the Royal Family gathered for the dinner at the Prince of Wales’s home, Clarence House.

Charles, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, and Princes William and Harry were among those toasting the couple’s 60-year milestone at the black-tie event.

Their celebrations will continue today, the day before their anniversary, with a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey where they married on November 20, 1947.

Some 2,000 people including Gordon Brown, former premiers Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major, clergy, military chiefs and the Queen’s godchildren, will attend.

None of the Royal Family’s German relations, nor Philip’s sisters who married Germans, were invited to the wedding in 1947 in keeping with national anti-German feeling.

But today some of the Duke’s distant German relatives will be present – his niece Grand Duchess Princess Margarita of Baden has been invited along with the Margrave and Margravine of Baden, and Prince and Princess Ludwig of Baden.

Around 500 Royal Household staff, past and present, will attend. Representatives from the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Royal Train and the Royal Squadron will join the congregation together with the Aga Khan, Sir David Attenborough and the former King Constantine of Greece.

Ten couples who married on the same day are guests, too. Two – Barbara and Norman Moon, both 78, from Calverton, Nottingham – said: “It’s a once in a lifetime.” (via Daily Express)