Queen surprises couple by turning up for wedding

London, Mar 25 (ANI): The Queen of England stunned a couple tying the knot by arriving at their wedding to congratulate them.

John and Frances Canning got married at Manchester Town Hall at the same time as the Queen was having lunch with 200 local volunteers in an adjacent room.

She and Prince Philip not only turned up at their wedding but also took the time to pose for photographs alongside the happy couple.

The bride, Frances, 44, described the experience as "surreal" and said that she couldn't believe it.

"The Queen spoke to us by our first names. She said I looked lovely and she wanted to wish us all the best for the future," the Sun quoted her as saying.

"It was very special - it was so lovely that she took the trouble to speak to us.

"We're going to have to get a bigger wedding album now. Not many people will have pictures like that," she added.

Her husband, John, 48, told how he chatted with Prince Philip while the photos were being taken.

"He was a charming fella - for me it was the icing on the cake. We'll never forget this day and neither will our guests.

"If we can have half as many happy days together as the Queen and Prince Philip then we will be blessed," he said.

John knew beforehand that the Queen was due to visit Manchester on his wedding day, and even wrote to Buckingham Palace to jokingly invite her along. He received a reply politely declining the invitation - but the Palace then secretly set up the meeting.

The Queen was visiting Manchester as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. She also visited the BBC's new headquarters, Salford University and four local hospitals. (ANI)