1. What anniversaries/birthdays does The Queen send congratulatory messages for?
2. Can a message be sent after the anniversary/birthday has passed?
3. The event was longer than six months ago. Can I still apply for a belated message?
4. How soon can I apply for a message from The Queen?
5. I cannot supply a copy of the marriage certificate. Can I still apply without it?
6. I cannot supply a copy of the birth certificate. Can I still apply without it?
7. The celebrant(s) live(s) overseas. Can I still apply for a message?
(Excluding Australia, Canada and New Zealand)
8. The celebrant(s) live(s) in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand. What do I need to do?
9. Where do I send the completed form to?
10. How much does it cost to arrange a message from Her Majesty?
11. How is the message sent and when is it likely to arrive?
12. Can the message be sent to arrive before the anniversary/birthday?
13. The celebrant(s) has/have received a message before. Do I need to apply again?
14. The certificate I have copied is too long for one sheet of A4 paper. Will it be accepted in two halves?
15. Is it possible to arrange an anniversary/birthday message to be sent posthumously?
16. How will I know if my application has been received?
17. The celebrants now use a different surname to the one stated on the marriage certificate. Do I need to provide proof?’
18. In view of any industrustrial action affecting postal services, can I allo more time to sind in my application?
1. What anniversaries/birthdays does The Queen send congratulatory messages for?
The Queen sends messages of congratulations for Diamond (60th), 65th and Platinum (70th) wedding anniversaries and every year thereafter. She also arranges messages for 100th, 105th birthdays and every year thereafter.
2. Can a message be sent after the anniversary/birthday has passed?
It is possible to receive a belated message up to six months after the event.
3. The event was longer than six months ago; Can I still apply for a belated message?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to arrange a message for an event which took place more than six months previously. However, it may be possible to arrange a message for the anniversary/birthday the following year. An application should be made as usual, three weeks before the next anniversary/birthday.
4. How soon can I apply for a message from The Queen?
The Anniversaries Office accepts applications for wedding and birthday messages no sooner than three weeks before the celebration. (A two week extension can be allowed for holiday periods i.e Christmas and Easter).
5. I cannot supply a copy of the marriage certificate. Can I still apply without it?
If you cannot supply a copy of the marriage certificate, you may wish to contact the appropriate Office below who can search for the marriage details and confirm them directly with the Anniversaries Office.
England and Wales
The General Register Office
Southport
Tel. 0845 603 7788
Scotland
The National Records of Scotland
Edinburgh
Tel. 0131 314 4488
Web: www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/Anniversaries.html
Northern Ireland
The General Register Office
Belfast
Tel. 028 9025 2000
6. I cannot supply a copy of the birth certificate. Can I still apply without it?
If you cannot supply a copy of the birth certificate and the celebrant is in receipt of a state pension, you can send the completed form to the Anniversaries Office who will check the details with the Department for Work and Pensions.
7. The celebrant(s) live(s) overseas. Can I still apply for a message? (Excluding Australia, Canada and New Zealand)
Her Majesty only sends messages to people who are current citizens of Her Realms and UK Overseas Territories. It would therefore be necessary for you to supply the Anniversaries Office with proof of the celebrant(s) British Nationality (i.e A photocopy of a current or recent British Passport).
8. The celebrant(s) live(s) in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand. What do I need to do?
It may be possible for residents of Australia, Canada or New Zealand to receive a message of congratulations from The Queen. It is necessary for you to arrange this through Her Majesty’s representative, the Governor-General.
Visit the website for the Governor General of Australia
Visit the website for the Governor General of Canada
Visit the website for the Governor General of New Zealand
9. Where do I send the completed form to?
Please send the completed application form along with any necessary documentation to the
Anniversaries Office, Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA.
10. How much does it cost to arrange a message from Her Majesty?
No charge is made by Buckingham Palace to send a message of congratulations from The Queen. However, the General Register Office(s) may charge a small administration fee for the confirmation of marriage details.
11. How is the message sent and when is it likely to arrive?
Her Majesty’s messages are sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery and are guaranteed to arrive before 1pm on the day of the event. (In the event of the celebration falling on a Sunday, the message will be delivered on Saturday).
12. Can the message be sent to arrive before the anniversary/birthday?
It is possible to request a message be delivered up to a maximum of 5 days before the event.
13. The celebrant(s) has/have received a message before. Do I need to apply again?
In order for the Anniversaries Office to send a message it is necessary for them to receive a written application. You can do this by completing and returning the appropriate application form. If the celebrant(s) has/have received a message before it would not be required to provide documentary evidence on this occasion.
14. The certificate I have copied is too long for one sheet of A4 paper. Will it be accepted in two halves?
If the certificate which you are copying will not fit on to one sheet of A4 paper, it is acceptable for the Anniversaries Office to receive it in two halves or alternatively on A3 paper. However, please ensure you have copied the left hand side of the certificate stating the marriage/birth place and date along with the celebrant(s) name(s).
15. Is it possible to arrange an anniversary/birthday message to be sent posthumously?
It would not be appropriate for The Queen to send a congratulatory message when a celebrant has passed away.
16. How will I know if my application has been received?
The Anniversaries Office will write to confirm the application has been received and approved whilst returning any documentation that may have been sent.
17. The celebrants now use a different surname to the one stated on the marriage certificate. Do I need to provide proof?’
If the couple’s surname has changed since their marriage, is it essential for you to provide proof of their name change. This can be in the form of a copy of the Deed Poll or copy of the London Gazette entry. If no official documentation can be found to support the name change, a congratulatory message can still be arranged in the name as stated on the marriage certificate.
18. In view of any industrustrial action affecting postal services, can I allow more time to send in my application?
The Anniversaries Office is happy to accept applications four to five weeks before the anniversary/birthday whilst Royal Mail’s industrial action takes place.
19. Is it possible to make an online application?
If you are able obtain a copy of the marriage certificate you may apply online
Apply Online
If the birth/marriage took place in Scotland, you may wish to apply through the National Records of Scotland
Apply Online
