How would you like to receive a birthday card from the Queen of England?  Did you know that each year, Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth sends some 50,000 greeting cards celebrating citizens’ special birthdays and anniversaries. This royal tradition began in 1917, and Queen Elizabeth has sent cards since her coronation in 1953. In 2015, she became the longest-ruling monarch and achieved the milestone of sending the millionth greeting card to her country people (according to this announcement)!

If you’d like to join the ranks of the lucky million, you must be a current citizen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or one of England’s 26 realms and overseas territories. If you live anywhere from the Sandwich Islands to Tuvalu, the queen will send you a card, but it might take longer to arrive.

Congratulatory messages are only sent to citizens who are celebrating milestone anniversaries and birthdays. If you’ve been married for 60 years or more, you could qualify. Cards are sent by special delivery to those celebrating diamond and platinum anniversaries after 60, 65 or 70 years of marriage. Folks who have enjoyed more than 70 years of marital bliss receive cards annually. In 2006, one couple received a card for their 83rd anniversary.
If you have a special birthday coming up, you can request a card too. The Royal Household graciously sends cards to centenarians on their 100th and 105th birthdays and each year thereafter. With people living longer, your chances of receiving a royal birthday card are only improving. So many Brits are opening cards these days that the queen hired extra staff. Last year was the best yet with some 53,000 birthday and anniversary cards sent through the Royal Mail. In fact, the queen is mailing twice as many cards as she did 10 years ago.

Centenarians in the UK are automatically added to the list by the state pension office. Others may complete an application and submit it online or by mail. If you aren’t added automatically, you’ll need to send a copy of your birth certificate or marriage license.

Great care is taken when sending congratulatory cards. Twins have received royal birthday cards, and the queen has made sure that each one received a unique message. Likewise, recipients who have been on the list for several years receive a different greeting each time.

The cards display the royal coat of arms, the recipient’s name, a personalized birthday message and the queen’s signature printed on fine white stationery. A picture of her majesty adorns the front. One 109-year-old woman complained that four of her five cards had the same photograph. She was later visited by Prince William.

There’s no question that this is a very special tradition. Centenarians in Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Sweden and the United States receive recognition from presidents and prime ministers. Some countries even provide money or silver trophies, but none of these traditions are carried out with Queen Elizabeth’s class or style.