How many people receive congratulatory messages from The Queen each year?
Since 1917, the Sovereign has sent congratulatory messages to those celebrating their 100th birthday and every year after their 105th birthday, and to those celebrating their Diamond Weddings (60th anniversaries) and each year after their 70th anniversary. Such messages are sent only on request with copies of the relevant certificates, and recipients must be British nationals or from a Commonwealth realm (i.e. where The Queen is Head of State). The Queen’s congratulatory messages are sent out by British Telecom in a specially designed card. The front of the card shows the Royal Coat of Arms; the card is delivered by post. In 1996 The Queen sent 5,218 congratulatory telemessages to centenarians and 11,688 messages to Diamond Wedding celebrants (compared with 302 and 1,639 messages respectively in 1955).
