It is with the greatest pleasure that I move the motion at item 4 on the pink agenda paper. Members will find the text of the address to which the motion refers on the Tenth Notice Paper.

I am sure that my sense of pleasure will be shared by everyone in this hall and by many, many others throughout the Church and nation. To reach 50 years in any marriage is a very considerable achievement. To do so in the exposed circumstances of this one is, perhaps, even more remarkable.

The institution of marriage is being questioned, even disregarded, by some today. We in the Church believe that is a profound mistake. We do so not because we are attached to outdated rituals but because we believe that marriage is an institution hallowed by God. We also believe that it is vital to the well-being of those involved, and of society.

It is therefore particularly important that society should have before it examples of happy marriages, conceived in love and continued successfully under circumstances sometimes favourable, sometimes less so. It is a cause for all society, and particularly the Church, to be profoundly grateful that in the marriage of our Monarch we have just such an example.

Those of us blessed with a happy marriage will know that there will be rough times as well as smooth. It is foolish to imagine that any marriage can be exempt from such moments of trial. In congratulating Her Majesty and Prince Philip today on their marriage, we do not turn our back on those whose marriages have not withstood such strains.

Those marriages which are able to endure such difficulties emerge strengthened from the experience. It is in such circumstances that the 'mutual society, help and comfort' of which the Prayer Book speaks are both particularly required and, in a successful marriage, particularly evident.

And so we thank God both for the institution of marriage and for this particular marriage, so important in its example to our nation. In doing so, we recognise the qualities of tolerance, fortitude, mutual devotion and commitment which The Queen and Prince Philip continue to demonstrate. And we also recognise the selfless devotion to the service of the Commonwealth and the nation which they have shown throughout their public life together. These are precious gifts to us all, in which we should rejoice.

I therefore invite this Synod unanimously to agree that a loyal address should be presented to Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on the happy occasion of their golden wedding anniversary. Although the language of the address on the Tenth Notice Paper is inevitably formal, let there be no doubt of the joy and sincerity which underlie our message of congratulations.

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