Today, here in the UK, we are celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Most people have an extra 2 days off work and there are celebrations taking place nationally and locally.
I'm not an ardent supporter of the Royal family but I appreciate the sense of stability the Queen has given our nation over the past 70 years. Her role is purely constitutional, she isn't allowed to interfere in politics. But there is something comforting in knowing that the Prime Minister has to have an audience with her regularly, I'm sure it helps to remind him or her that there is someone, in theory, above them.
70 years is a long time. We have seen many changes in our society and many Prime Ministers during that time. The one constant has been our Queen.
Today's Jubilee is also significant for me and my wife because it was on the Queen's Silver Jubilee back in 1977 that we met. She was a couple of weeks away from her 16th birthday and I was a couple of months away from my 18th birthday. We eventually married in 1980, she is my best friend and the love of my life. We've been through good times and bad times, and have survived it all.
So to day I will raise a glass to the Queen and remember the day I met my wonderful wife.