BESOTTED couple Fred and Betty Aldred celebrated a right royal 60th wedding anniversary at a Dorset care home.

The Queen sent a congratulatory message to the couple.

Betty, who lives with dementia, is a resident at Colten Care’s Fernhill home in Longham while Fred lives at Colten Care’s Kingfishers in New Milton.

The couple, who have two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild, met in the early 1950s at the hospital where Betty worked as a nurse.

Fred was in the Metropolitan Police and persuaded Betty to go on a date.

He proposed 18 months later and they were married in Ilford.

In 1960 they moved to Hertford-shire where they raised their two daughters and after retiring they relocated to Barton-on-Sea.

Betty, 83, moved into Fernhill nearly two months ago and has had a new lease of life. Fred, 84, visits as often as he can.

He said: “We’ve had some rough and smooth times but in the end we always end up best of friends.”

Daughter Mandy added: “Col-ten Care has done them proud; there has been such a change in mum since she’s been there.

“Dad has always worshipped the ground she walks on and to see them so happy again is wonderful.”