§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD HAILSHAM OF SAINT MARYEEBONE)My Lords, I have to report to your Lordships, in the absence of the Lord Privy Seal, that in accordance with the Order of the House of Thursday last, November 16, the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury, the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, the noble Lord, Lord Byers, and I waited upon Her Majesty the Queen this morning at Buckingham Palace and presented your Lordships' Address of Congratulation upon the twenty-fifth Anniversary of the wedding of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Your Lordships will be sorry to hear that the Leader of the House, the Lord Privy Seal, who is unwell, was unable to present the Address with us.
Her Majesty was graciously pleased to make the following reply, signed by her own hand:
"My husband and I thank you most sincerely for your congratulations on the twenty-fifth Anniversary of our Wedding. It gives us particular pleasure on this happy occasion to receive this warm expression of the affection and loyalty which you have always shown towards us, and we both greatly appreciate your good wishes for our future happiness."