A couple has celebrated 60 years of marriage and received a card from His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
Lionel and Heather Richards, from Australian Avenue in Salisbury, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary after marrying at St Martin's Church, Barford, on January 19, 1963.
The couple lived in Barford St Martin for most of their lives but moved to Salisbury in 1994.
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Seventy-seven-year-old Heather recalled her special day when snow fell heavily in the village and a pathway into the church had to be carved out for her.
"Very little money was spent on the wedding. I bought my wedding dress in the sale at Blooms in Salisbury for £15," she said.
Lionel worked as a tyre fitter and was an avid cricket player while Heather made parts for aeroplanes.
The couple met at a cricket match before having their first date in Grovely Woods.
"There wasn’t much to do in those days. We often used to go to the pictures, we called it the flicks in those days," Heather added.
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Lionel and Heather have four children, Julia, Cheryl, Michael and Angie.
Heather told the Journal that the secret to a long marriage is to "clear the air and move on", adding: "As we got older, we appreciated one another more.
“When you retire you find common ground again and we enjoyed going on the buses and going on holidays together.
"Life has changed for us; my husband has dementia and I feel as though I've become more of a carer, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
Celebrations took place in their home on Saturday, January 21, when they invited family members over for a meal.
His Majesty The King sends congratulatory messages to those celebrating their diamond wedding (60th), 65th, 70th wedding anniversaries and every year thereafter.
The pair are both fans of the royal family and were "thrilled to bits" when their card arrived in the post.
The highlight of their 60-year-long marriage was a family holiday to Florida in 2007 and it was their first time on a plane.
Heather said: “We still look back now that we were lucky enough to go on it.
“Now that we can’t go on holiday, we have lovely memories of that one.”
Lionel and Heather now enjoy spending time with their nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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