A couple received a royal message from King Charles and Queen Camilla as they were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary at a restaurant in Wallingford.

The surprise unfolded on Easter Saturday, March 30, when Newbury town crier Brian Sylvester presented a photo card from the monarchs to Sara and John Grosse while they were at Italian restaurant Avanti.

The couple were celebrating their Diamond wedding anniversary with a meal with their family.

Crowmarsh Gifford residents Sara, who was a University College Hospital student nurse, and John, a former Metropolitan Police constable, got married six decades ago in Beaconsfield's St Mary and All Saints Church.

Oxford Mail: Newbury town crier Brian SylvesterNewbury town crier Brian Sylvester (Image: John Grosse)

After getting married, they raised their two sons and daughter in West London, before moving to Crowmarsh in 2017.

The event marked the final engagement as town crier for Mr Sylvester before his retirement, after serving for 25 years.

Oxford Mail: The card from King Charles and Queen CamillaThe card from King Charles and Queen Camilla (Image: John Grosse)

Oxford Mail: The card from King Charles and Queen CamillaThe card from King Charles and Queen Camilla (Image: John Grosse)

Mr Sylvester was happy to honour Sara and John, his former toastmaster colleague at the London Guild of Toastmasters.

After elder son, Mark, had congratulated the couple and raised a toast to their health, their daughter, Helen, presented a card from the family and their younger son, Andrew, presented a floral display of white roses from town florists, 

The family then enjoyed a dinner of antipasto, scallops and prawns, roast duck with limoncello sauce, desserts, cheeseboard, coffee and port, and Italian white and red wines.