A surprise message from the Queen added a special touch to a 65th wedding anniversary celebration.

Quinton and Marjorie Talbot were given the message from Buckingham Palace on Sunday night — the day before their anniversary.

Mrs Talbot said she and her husband were “ecstatic” when they were handed the card by family members at a celebration dinner at Waterlot Inn in Southampton.

She said: “I couldn’t even open the card — my fingers were trembling.”

The Queen offered her best wishes and added: “I hope your day will be filled with happy memories.”

The Talbots plan to frame the card and give it pride of place on a wall at their Somerset home.

Mrs Talbot said: “It is a beautiful picture of the Queen in royal blue, carrying a bouquet of white roses.”

The 86-year-old added that the monarch turned out to be only a few months older than her husband.

Mr Talbot was born in September 1926 and the Queen was born in April the same year — making them both 92.

Mrs Talbot said the secret to a happy marriage was love — and hard work.

She added: “It’s something you have to work on. It’s not always easy.

“With a long marriage you have to give a lot, take a lot, and just try to love it up.”

The Talbots thanked Government House and the Cabinet Office for their help in organising the card from the Queen.