HAWES · OUR FAMILY ARCHIVE

← Eric William Valentine Hawes

Family collection · Royal correspondence · 1972

Silver Wedding thanks from Buckingham Palace

The Hawes family holds a photographed thank-you letter on Buckingham Palace stationery, signed “Elizabeth R” and “Philip”. It expresses appreciation for gifts and good wishes marking the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, celebrated in 1972. The family associates this document with Eric William Valentine Hawes.

Transcription

We are most grateful for our splendid Silver Wedding presents.

Thank you for your share in the portrait of Edward, the harness and the bird bath, and the trees for Windsor, Balmoral and Sandringham, all of which have given us great pleasure.

We have been much touched by your kind good wishes on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of our wedding.

Elizabeth R
Philip

Transcribed from the photograph supplied to the family archive. Punctuation and layout have been normalised slightly for reading; consult the original image for exact handwriting.

The original document

Photograph of Buckingham Palace headed stationery with a handwritten Silver Wedding thank-you note signed Elizabeth R and Philip

View the original photograph when available

Historical context

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip married on 20 November 1947; their silver wedding anniversary was therefore in November 1972. The letter refers to gifts contributed collectively, including a portrait of Edward, harness, a bird bath and trees for three royal residences. Family testimony identifies Eric as a messenger at Buckingham Palace during the 1970s, giving this preserved letter additional context. His exact employment dates and duties have not yet been established. The note does not identify its addressee in the supplied photograph, so the manner in which Eric received it remains unconfirmed.

Research note: Although signed with the royal names, the photograph alone does not establish whether the text or signatures were personally handwritten, printed or reproduced, nor whether it was an individually addressed or widely distributed acknowledgement. Additional correspondence, envelopes or family testimony may help establish how Eric received it.

Archive catalogue

Item
Buckingham Palace Silver Wedding thank-you letter
Associated family member
Eric William Valentine Hawes (1909–1992), by family provenance
Employment context
Eric was a messenger at Buckingham Palace during the 1970s (family testimony; exact dates and duties not yet verified)
Approximate date
1972, based on the silver wedding anniversary; precise date not shown
Format
Photograph of a handwritten-style note on palace stationery
Source
Original family photograph supplied on 6 November 2026