HALF a century after marrying in All Saints Church, Golborne, a couple were hob-nobbing with royalty.

For Phyllis and Peter Whittle were among only 2,000 couples throughout Britain and the Commonwealth invited to Buckingham Palace to join the Queen and Prince Philip who are also celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary this year.

And their trip was all thanks to the initiative in the first place of their grand-daughter Kimberley, 11, of Upwood Road, Lowton, who sent off for an application form to the Lord Lieutenant's Office which was inviting applications to be considered.

Kimberley said: "I saw an article in The Journal about invitations to a royal Garden Party so I wrote off for more details and my grand-parents were eventually sent an invitation - though we had to send a copy of their wedding certificate to prove their anniversary was right!"

And Kimberley's mum, Ann added: "Mum and dad were thrilled to bits to receive the invitation and during the two hours they were at Buckingham Palace they were even more thrilled when the Queen and Prince Philip came across and greeted them and said a few words and asked where they lived.

"It is really the icing on the cake for them both as they celebrate their golden wedding next week."

Pictured outside Buckingham Palace are Phyllis and Peter.

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