My balcony scene at Philip’s wedding

SEVENTY years ago last August, I started my first job at the Air Ministry in Whitehall, as a young trainee in the photographic department. Our offices were on the top floor, so we had a lift that we could use. As we were going out to lunch one day, our lift reached the ground floor and opened to find two naval officers waiting. One was Prince Philip, who was a very handsome young man — his Press photographs did not do him justice. We girls were thrilled to see him. I then had even further good luck. A lottery throughout the Civil Service was held to allocate a place at Richmond Terrace for a lucky few to see the procession of Princess Elizabeth to and from the Abbey for her marriage to Prince Philip. I won a place on a balcony where my mother and I could watch the procession. This did not go down too well with my fellow workers, who had been at the Ministry for years, while I had been there for only three months and was very junior. God bless Her Majesty and the Duke.