Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch to accomplish the feat of celebrating her sixtieth wedding anniversary to the Duke of Edinburgh on November 14, 2007, but on June 10, 2008 the British monarch was no longer the only one. Former King Michael I and Queen Ana of Romania marked their auspicious occasion with three days of celebration this week. Besides several private events, the royal couple attended a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum. As tribute to the milestone, a volume written by their eldest daughter Princess Margareta and her husband Prince Radu entitled “Nunta de Diamant” was released at the National History Museum of Romania.
Initially, it was at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey that Michael and Ana first met. Queen Ana recalled how she was quite taken by Michael dressed in his military uniform. Evidently, the attraction was mutual because he proposed to her a week after their first meeting. The couple married at Tatoi in Greece in 1948. They have five daughters: Margareta, Elena, Irina, Sofia and Maria.On a personal note, my husband Michael and I celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary next week. Incidentally, my husband proposed to me three weeks after we first met and so I raise a toast to those whose marriages have even surpassed the first year and many more hereafter.
Below is the list of royal attendees to the Diamond Wedding celebration of King Michael I and Queen Ana of Romania on June 10, 2008.HM Queen Sofía of Spain
HM King Simeon of Bulgaria
HM Queen Margarita of Bulgaria
HM King Constantine II of Greece
HM Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
ASIR Prince Lorenz of Belgium
ASIR Archduke Karl of Austria
HRH Prince Alexander II of Serbia and Yugoslavia
HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia and Yugoslavia
HRH Morritz, Landgrave of Hesse
HRH Prince Maximilian II of Baden
ASIR Markgraffin of Baden
HRH Duarte Pio, Ducele of Branganza
HRH Prince Amedeo of Savoia, Duke of Aosta
HRH Princess Silvia of Savoia, Duchess of Aosta
ASIR Archduke Christian of Austria
ASIR Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria
HRH Prince Ludwig of Baden
HRH Princess Marianne of Baden
HRH Prince Philippe de Bourbon-Parma
HRH Princess Annette de Bourbon-Parma
Lorraine HRH Princess of Bourbon-Parma
Countess Marie Holstein-Ledreborg
SSA Prince Charles of Thurn und Taxis
SSA Veronica Princess of Thurn und Taxis
Dr. John Fruchaud
SSA Princess Tatiana Radziwill, Mrs. John Fruchaud
For more information on the Romanian Royal Family, visit the official website.Photos: Monarchy of Romania, REUTERS