The Queen has made a new couple's day - by turning up at their wedding.
The couple, from Prestwich, Manchester, had booked Manchester Town Hall for their wedding. But, some time later, they received a phone call from the town hall's staff telling them that the town hall was to receive a very imporant VIP on the day of their wedding.
After learning it was the Queen, the couple wrote a lighthearted letter to Buckingham Palace inviting Her Majesty to the wedding - and she accepted. But the couple didn't know she had accepted until the day of the wedding.
On Friday, John and Frances Canning turned up at Manchester Town Hall for their wedding, and were left gobsmacked when the Queen appeared. She also addressed the delighted couple by name and posed for photos with them.
John, 48, said: “I’m a big fan of the Royal family. When we found out who the VIP was we wrote to her, a bit light-heartedly, and got a nice letter back from a lady in waiting. We didn’t expect anything further to come from it.”
Also on Friday, the Queen visited the BBC's MediaCityUK in Salford, where she visted the Match of the Day and Blue Peter sets.
Guest of honour: Queen leaves couple stunned after Her Majesty accepts wedding invitation at Manchester town hall
March 24, 2012
Manchester Evening News
Frances and John Canning meeting the Queen at Manchester town hall on Friday during their wedding
A couple invited the Queen to their wedding – and she accepted.
Sweethearts Frances and John Canning were amazed when the Queen appeared as surprise guest of honour on their big day.
The couple, from Prestwich, had booked Manchester town hall for their civil wedding.
But they were shocked when staff phoned to say they would be sharing the venue with ‘an important VIP’.
After learning it was the Queen, the couple wrote a lighthearted letter to Buckingham Palace inviting her to join their party.
They were pleasantly surprised to receive a reply from the Palace thanking them for the invite – and stunned when the Royal visitor made a detour from her original schedule to turn up to wish them the best.
Bride Frances, 44, who runs a hairdressing salon, said she was flabbergasted to be greeted by name by the Queen.
Stunned: Frances and John had been told the Queen would be in the same building but never dreamt they would get to meet her
She said: “We booked the town hall ages ago but we got a phone call four weeks ago telling us that a VIP would be in the building on the same day.
“We never dreamt we would be able to meet her.
“When we had our ceremony, the staff asked us to wait for a moment in the corridor and just a few minutes later the Queen arrived. She knew both our names and apparently we had been especially added to her rota.”
Groom John, 48, said: “I’m a big fan of the Royal family. When we found out who the VIP was we wrote to her, a bit light-heartedly, and got a nice letter back from a lady in waiting. We didn’t expect anything further to come from it.”
The couple’s 40 guests stared in amazement as the Queen, Prince Philip, and dignitaries lined up to congratulate the newlyweds. John, who works in a hairdressing supply business, said the moment was ‘like a dream’.
He said: “The Queen asked how we were feeling, and congratulated us. Prince Philip was asking where in Italy we were going for our honeymoon. They had clearly been briefed about what we were doing.”
The Queen enjoyed a three-course banquet at the town hall as part of her Diamond Jubilee visit to Manchester and Salford.
Earlier in the day, a crowd of thousands who were waiting for the Queen to emerge cheered as Frances climbed the steps of the town hall, before tying the knot in a first-floor conference room.
But the couple’s pal Peter Jackson, a self-employed businessman, said there was no hint of what was to follow. He said: “We had to have security checks in advance. So we knew that she was going to be there. But we thought we would be kept well away from the reception.”
Fellow guest Hayley Fitzpatrick added: “We didn’t know where to look. All of a sudden the Queen and Prince Philip were there in front of us. I was so surprised I knocked something over - she looked at me and asked if I was okay.”
Guest of honour: Queen leaves couple stunned after Her Majesty accepts wedding invitation at Manchester town hall | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
The couple, from Prestwich, Manchester, had booked Manchester Town Hall for their wedding. But, some time later, they received a phone call from the town hall's staff telling them that the town hall was to receive a very imporant VIP on the day of their wedding.
After learning it was the Queen, the couple wrote a lighthearted letter to Buckingham Palace inviting Her Majesty to the wedding - and she accepted. But the couple didn't know she had accepted until the day of the wedding.
On Friday, John and Frances Canning turned up at Manchester Town Hall for their wedding, and were left gobsmacked when the Queen appeared. She also addressed the delighted couple by name and posed for photos with them.
John, 48, said: “I’m a big fan of the Royal family. When we found out who the VIP was we wrote to her, a bit light-heartedly, and got a nice letter back from a lady in waiting. We didn’t expect anything further to come from it.”
Also on Friday, the Queen visited the BBC's MediaCityUK in Salford, where she visted the Match of the Day and Blue Peter sets.
Guest of honour: Queen leaves couple stunned after Her Majesty accepts wedding invitation at Manchester town hall
March 24, 2012
Manchester Evening News
Frances and John Canning meeting the Queen at Manchester town hall on Friday during their wedding
A couple invited the Queen to their wedding – and she accepted.
Sweethearts Frances and John Canning were amazed when the Queen appeared as surprise guest of honour on their big day.
The couple, from Prestwich, had booked Manchester town hall for their civil wedding.
But they were shocked when staff phoned to say they would be sharing the venue with ‘an important VIP’.
After learning it was the Queen, the couple wrote a lighthearted letter to Buckingham Palace inviting her to join their party.
They were pleasantly surprised to receive a reply from the Palace thanking them for the invite – and stunned when the Royal visitor made a detour from her original schedule to turn up to wish them the best.
Bride Frances, 44, who runs a hairdressing salon, said she was flabbergasted to be greeted by name by the Queen.
Stunned: Frances and John had been told the Queen would be in the same building but never dreamt they would get to meet her
She said: “We booked the town hall ages ago but we got a phone call four weeks ago telling us that a VIP would be in the building on the same day.
“We never dreamt we would be able to meet her.
“When we had our ceremony, the staff asked us to wait for a moment in the corridor and just a few minutes later the Queen arrived. She knew both our names and apparently we had been especially added to her rota.”
Groom John, 48, said: “I’m a big fan of the Royal family. When we found out who the VIP was we wrote to her, a bit light-heartedly, and got a nice letter back from a lady in waiting. We didn’t expect anything further to come from it.”
The couple’s 40 guests stared in amazement as the Queen, Prince Philip, and dignitaries lined up to congratulate the newlyweds. John, who works in a hairdressing supply business, said the moment was ‘like a dream’.
He said: “The Queen asked how we were feeling, and congratulated us. Prince Philip was asking where in Italy we were going for our honeymoon. They had clearly been briefed about what we were doing.”
The Queen enjoyed a three-course banquet at the town hall as part of her Diamond Jubilee visit to Manchester and Salford.
Earlier in the day, a crowd of thousands who were waiting for the Queen to emerge cheered as Frances climbed the steps of the town hall, before tying the knot in a first-floor conference room.
But the couple’s pal Peter Jackson, a self-employed businessman, said there was no hint of what was to follow. He said: “We had to have security checks in advance. So we knew that she was going to be there. But we thought we would be kept well away from the reception.”
Fellow guest Hayley Fitzpatrick added: “We didn’t know where to look. All of a sudden the Queen and Prince Philip were there in front of us. I was so surprised I knocked something over - she looked at me and asked if I was okay.”
Guest of honour: Queen leaves couple stunned after Her Majesty accepts wedding invitation at Manchester town hall | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
