This page is a guide to the published rules, not a decision on whether a message will be sent. Each rule below is quoted from the office that publishes it, with the date we read it. If a source has changed since, the source is right and this page is out of date.
Which anniversaries qualify
GOV.UK names four: the 60th, which it calls the diamond, the 65th, the 70th, which it calls the platinum, and every anniversary after the 70th. National Records of Scotland and nidirect give the same years. Nothing earlier qualifies, so the silver and golden weddings do not.
Which wedding years reach one in 2026 and 2027
Take the anniversary from the year it falls in. A couple married in 1966 reach their 60th in 2026. The table runs to the 75th; the rule carries on every year after that.
| Anniversary | Falls in 2026 if married in | Falls in 2027 if married in |
|---|---|---|
| 60th | 1966 | 1967 |
| 65th | 1961 | 1962 |
| 70th | 1956 | 1957 |
| 71st | 1955 | 1956 |
| 72nd | 1954 | 1955 |
| 73rd | 1953 | 1954 |
| 74th | 1952 | 1953 |
| 75th | 1951 | 1952 |
Applying online: five weeks before, at the earliest
Every source agrees on this one. GOV.UK: "no earlier than 5 weeks before the anniversary date if you apply online". The Palace's own online application page says "Applications can be made no sooner than 5 weeks before the anniversary date." Applying too early is the mistake to avoid: the window opens as the date gets closer rather than closing.
Applying by post: the sources disagree
GOV.UK says "3 weeks before if you apply by post". The frequently asked questions on the Royal Family's anniversary messages page at royal.uk agree: "The Anniversaries Office accepts postal applications for wedding and birthday messages no sooner than three weeks before the celebration." It adds that the office can extend that by a fortnight over the Christmas and Easter holidays.
The paper form that the same royal.uk page links to, a PDF named for June 2023, says something else: "Please do not return this form any sooner than five weeks before the celebration date." Its own questions section repeats it: "The Anniversaries Office accepts online and postal applications for wedding and birthday messages no sooner than five weeks before the celebration."
Because those two answers do not match, this page gives no postal date. GOV.UK gives the Anniversaries Office number as 020 7930 4832.
If the day has passed
GOV.UK allows a belated message "up to 6 months after". The royal.uk questions go one step further: past six months no message can be arranged for that anniversary, but "it may be possible to arrange a message for the anniversary/birthday the following year".
Without a copy of the marriage certificate, nation by nation
GOV.UK says: "You'll need to send a copy of the couple's marriage certificate when you apply." Without one, the route depends on where the couple married.
England and Wales. GOV.UK: "Call the General Register Office to apply 8 weeks before the anniversary." It adds that the office "will confirm the details and request the anniversary message for you". The Palace's paper form puts the same call at "around 6 weeks before the anniversary", and its questions section at "from 6-8 weeks before".
Scotland. National Records of Scotland lists who can apply through it: "the marriage must have taken place in Scotland", "the couple must be resident in the UK" and "it must be less than 3 weeks before the event". It also says: "You can apply online for a message to be sent. You can do this without a copy of the marriage certificate."
Northern Ireland. nidirect: "You must contact the Centenarian and Anniversary Clerk to ask for a congratulatory message at least six weeks before the birthday or anniversary date." For proof of the marriage it asks for "a copy of the couple's marriage certificate (digital photograph, scanned or paper copy) or a letter from the General Register Office (GRONI) confirming the date of marriage".
Sources, read 28 September 2026
- GOV.UK, Get a birthday or anniversary message from the King.
- National Records of Scotland, Royal Anniversary Messages.
- nidirect, Congratulatory messages.
- The Royal Family's anniversary messages page at royal.uk, its online application page, and the wedding application form it links (PDF, named for June 2023). Quoted, not linked: royal.uk refuses automated checks, so GOV.UK above is the way in.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
For the material and name of any anniversary year, try the anniversary lookup. The diamond, 65th and platinum pages cover each of the three named years.
