Just days before the royal wedding, and the start of a long and happy marriage, a Chorleywood couple have celebrated a remarkable seven decades together.

Reg and Grace Day, both 90-years-old, marked the occasion of their platinum anniversary with their family today, in Burford House, Rickmansworth Road.

In contrast to the extensive media coverage of this year's royal wedding - the fourth Mr and Mrs Day will watch as a married couple – on their wedding day in 1941 the television service was cancelled by World War Two.

Mr Day, who worked as dental technician, said he and his wife had to save very hard to pay for their wedding, which took place in the middle of a war, when George the sixth was on the throne.

Mrs Day, a hairdresser, added: “It was very short and we had to give the caterers coupons for food, but luckily it was just before things got really bad.”

As well as cards from family and friends, and a video message from their grandson in San Diego, Mr and Mrs Day also received a message from Queen Elizabeth, who herself has been married for 63 years.

Mr and Mrs Day lived in the same road in Neasden, London, and attended the same schools, at 16-years-old they met as friends and their 70 year romance blossomed from there.

Mrs Day said: “He used to wait for me to turn the corner at the end of the road so he could catch up and walk with me.”

During their long and happy marriage Mr and Mrs Day have enjoyed many holidays with their daughter, Linda, as well as their two grandchildren, and grand-daughter, who is also named Grace.

So what is the secret of a marriage which has lasted longer than the reign of Queen Elizabeth the second?

Mrs Day said: “You have to learn how to share, and to give and take. We would never live beyond our means.

“We never wanted for anything, that is when the trouble starts.”