The Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh crash wedding of John and Frances Canning

Times…they are a-changing!!!

The Queen of England and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were attending a luncheon with about 200 volunteers at the Manchester Town Hall on Fridday, when they surprised a couple getting married in an adjacent room.

The Queen and the Duke spent about five minutes speaking with the shocked bride and groom and posed for a few pictures with the newlyweds, Frances and John Canning.

The Canning’s said when they booked the town hall room last year for their wedding they were told that a “very important person” was also scheduled to be in the building at the same time.

Forty-eight year old John Canning, of Prestwich, said when he found out that the VIP person was her Majesty and Prince Phillip, he wrote to Buckingham Palace inviting them to the celebration.  He said he received a reply politely declining the offer.

But what John Canning did not know was that the Palace had contacted Manchester City Council to arrange a surprise meeting.

After the couple was finished exchanging their vows, they were asked to come into the hallway, where they were greeted by her Majesty and the Duke with a “Hello John, Hello Frances.”

Forty-four year old Frances, who is a hairdresser, said the whole thing “was surreal…..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.  It was very special…it was so lovely that she took the trouble to speak to us.”

This would not have happened 10 years ago…..happy to see that the Palace is changing with the times.