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Telegraph - Queen’s romance to give us cheer. By Liz Hunt

In a week of apocalyptic headlines, storm surges and devastated lives, it is the most unexpected and uplifting of stories, irresistible to even the most cynical or rabidly republican among us.

To mark their 60th wedding anniversary in November, a helmet-haired, stern-faced old lady and her crotchety husband are returning to Malta, where they lived briefly in the early years of their marriage.

A lovely idea and not so very unusual for two octogenarians in good health. That is, until you realise it is the Queen and Prince Philip who are embarking on this most romantic of trips.

Yes, that’s right, a couple who, on private holidays, have rarely stirred from tartan picnic blankets in the midge-infested glens of Balmoral, or ventured far beyond the upper deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia (when they still had her) on their annual cruise of the Scottish coastline.

The visit has been described as a “second honeymoon”, although whether that interpretation has been sanctioned by the Palace or is merely the media’s wishful thinking is unclear.

But it is a revelation for those of us jaded by a succession of royal weddings with nightmare endings, or too young to remember the Queen in her personal life as anyone other than a long-married matron and grandmother.

Don’t read the rest of it. In the words of one commenter,

Making references to gossip surrounding Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh was rather cheap and surprsing to read in the Telegraph.

Update (7.27):

Times Online - Queen is reunited with her wedding dress

On her way round the exhibition she lingered by her ivory silk-satin wedding dress with its full train, which bears the symbol of the rose of York embroidered in more than 10,000 seed pearls and glittering crystals.

With its fitted bodice and scalloped, heart-shape neckline, the dress is also embroidered with jasmine flowers, ears of wheat, star-shaped syringa and appliques of transparent tulle. It took three months to make.

Sir Hugh Roberts, the director of the Royal Collection, who escorted the Queen on her private tour before the display opens tomorrow, hinted that her Majesty had been moved and fascinated at this year’s show.

“This one is very personal to her and must bring back many extraordinary memories of that day 60 years ago,” Sir Hugh said. “I think, as with everybody really seeing the dress again, she will have marvelled at the quality of the embroidery and the way the dress was so particularly well suited to that great occasion.

Next to the dress is a reproduction of the Queen’s wedding bouquet of white orchids, made by the granddaughter of Martin Longman, the florist who made the original bouquet. The floral display which decorated each table at the wedding breakfast has also been reproduced.

Nearby is a display of royal bridal jewels, including the dazzling Russian fringe tiara, originally made in 1919 for Queen Mary, that held the Queen’s veil. Her shoes, in their original cream, padded, monogrammed box, are on view.

I keep my shoe boxes too, ma’am.

Like all British brides in the days of post-war rationing, the Queen received 200 extra clothing coupons from the Government towards her wedding trousseau.

There! You see?! Just like I said! They should do that today! The Queen and the Prince still married, aren’t they?

I think we’ve really hit on something here.