HISTORY OF ANNIVERSARY MESSAGES

The sending of Royal congratulatory messages dates back 90 years.

In 1917 His Majesty King George V began the tradition of sending messages of congratulations to those of his subjects celebrating their one hundredth birthdays and diamond (sixtieth) wedding anniversaries. This custom has been continued by reigning monarchs ever since.
 
Originally congratulatory messages were sent as telegrams by the Royal Mail's Inland Telegram Service. When the telegram service was discontinued in 1982 it was replaced by a telemessage sent by British Telecom. This telemessage was incorporated inside a card, with the Royal Coat of Arms on the front and a picture of the Royal Mail Coach inside.

The design of the card was changed in 1990 to include one of four designs of Royal residences - Windsor Castle, Caernarfon Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse or Killyleagh - depending on whether the celebrant lived in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The artists were chosen locally by the regional Arts Councils and were all approved by The Queen.

Her Majesty now sends congratulatory messages for diamond, sixty-fifth and platinum (seventieth) wedding anniversaries and every year thereafter, and for the one hundredth and one hundred and fifth birthdays and every year thereafter.

In 1999 the telemessage was replaced by a card. It now shows a photograph of The Queen taken at Sandringham, which is unique to the card, and contains a printed insert which has the Royal Coat of Arms, and a personal greeting from Her Majesty.

These cards are sent by special delivery through the Royal Mail and arrive, when possible, on the day of the anniversary.