Royal wedding coin in a world of change
THE Queen and Prince Philip will celebrate the longest royal marriage in British history later this month, but public attitudes towards weddings have changed dramatically since their big day 70 years ago.
A survey commissioned to mark the royal couple’s platinum anniversary on November 20 found just 30 per cent of grooms aged 18 to 34 had asked permission for the bride’s hand in marriage from her father.
Just over a third of young brides in the UK wear a white wedding dress, while eight per cent have been to a wedding which descended into a brawl.
Nearly three-quarters of young wives have adopted their husband’s name, compared with 97 per cent aged over 55, while 11 per cent of couples take a double-barrelled surname. One in 10 men between 18 and 34 even take on their wife’s surname.
Just 17 per cent of young couples claimed the bride’s parents paid for the big day, compared to 30 per cent of over-55s.
Just two-fifths of younger men proposed on a bended knee.
The Opinium poll of 2,000 adults was commissioned by the London Mint Office, which has produced a commemorative coin to mark the royal anniversary.
The coin bears an image of the then-Princess Elizabeth and the Duke on their wedding day, and features the words “strength” and “stay”. It is available from the London Mint Office free, with a £2.50 postage fee.