As we suggested last week, the Queen has cancelled her Diamond Wedding Anniversary party at The Ritz.

The regal hotel would not confirm Royal Anecdotes’s suspicions that the event “has been quietly dropped” as it never comments on private bookings. Now we know that Her Majesty has put the party to one side because of the growing financial crisis in the British economy and the spectre of a recession, or worse.

The Mail on Sunday reports that the Monarch feels it would be “inappropriate” to hold a lavish celebration with the country on the brink of recession.

Guests would have been served champagne from crystal-studded bottles and dined off tablecloths covered with sparkling jewels, it is said. “Her highlighting of the dire state of the economy will not be welcomed by the Prime Minister [Gordon Brown], who faces daily reminders from his advisers that the electorate has lost the ‘feel-good’ factor and is punishing him for it in the opinion polls.”

A friend of the Royal couple commented, “It is a great shame, but the Queen does not want to be seen to be doing something so elaborate at a time of such economic gloom. [She] decided to cancel the party because of the very real prospect that the country is about to go through a major recession.”

Downing Street is apparently still sore about the mix-up when the accident-prone Gordon Brown sloped off from a photo-opportunity with the Queen and President Sarkozy before the Windsor Castle State banquet for the French party. They blamed Palace officials for sending him the wrong way.

The friend remarked, “With everyone else having money woes at the moment, the Queen decided to cancel. She thought it wouldn’t be a great example for her to set.”

It seems a sensible decision in the circumstances.

Quite how an 82-year old Monarch and her 86-year old Consort managed to get through the past exhausting week is a matter for conjecture. It began with the Diamond Wedding weekend, moved swiftly on to Malta for a sentimental break, and ended in Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

ITV’s Royal Correspondent Romilly Weeks

An amusing moment that showed the Duke of Edinburgh in sprightly form occurred on ITV’s news bulletin from Malta. As the Queen and the Prince conducted a walkabout on Valetta’s main street, Romilly Weeks, ITV’s Royal correspondent, spoke directly to camera about the Duke’s “romantic gesture” in bringing the Queen back to Malta, scene of one of the happiest times of their life together.

What she didn’t know was the Prince Philip was standing directly behind her listening to her piece. As she finished, she turned around to find the Duke with an amused expression. “Finished?” he said. They both had a good laugh before he moved on.

In Uganda it was Camilla’s turn to sparkle.

Camilla wearing the Queen Mother’s jewellery

The Duchess of Cornwall, obviously aware of local views that the Queen should wear a crown so that they knew she was a real Queen, chose to wear the Queen Mother’s Boucheron tiara and diamond necklace, with its full five strands, to a function. The Queen had made them available to her for the occasion.

Prince Charles was said to be there, with Camilla, to lobby for the job of Head of the Commonwealth when he becomes King. The role is not automatically given, but needs a consensus of the leaders.

With a new Australian Prime Minister apparently set on a republican agenda, the tide may be moving against him. Judging by his reception though, he has a good chance of claiming the job on ascending the Throne. As Head of the Commonwealth, the Monarch is given a world role that would otherwise be diminished.

It’s 60 years to the day since the Queen — then Princess Elizabeth — and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh married in Westminster Abbey.

The Queen at her Anniversary Service yesterday

The Queen and Philip on postage stamps over the years

The Queen and Philip opening Parliament

Royal Anecdotes wishes them both a happy anniversary and looks forward to their 70th.

The Queen and Prince Philip’s Diamond Wedding celebrations kick off this evening when the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall host a private dinner party for them, and 20 members of the family, at Clarence House.

The Queen and Prince Philip after 60 years of marriage

Marking 60 years of marriage, the event will undoubtedly provoke the Queen’s children and grandchildren to reassess their own often unhappy experiences. Prince Andrew has already stated publicly that he believes he “let his parents down” with the failure of his own alliance with Sarah Ferguson.

Under normal circumstances, any major party at Clarence House or Highgrove would be organized by Prince Charles’s former factotum, Michael Fawcett. In deference to the Queen, who allegedly dislike Fawcett, the arrangements have been made by the Prince’s own staff.

It’s believed the guest list is unlikely to include Kate Middleton as the occasion is a family one. Kate will not be too downhearted though, as it is being reported that Prince William is set to whisk her off to the Indian Ocean island of Rodrigues for a post-Christmas holiday in the sun. This love match is as strong as ever.

On a sidenote, a glittering bash at The Ritz has had to be postponed until May because of a clash of dates — an oversight at the Palace “forgot” the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda which the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth, and Charles and Camilla, are set to attend.

Recreating the famous honeymoon picture at Broadlands

A service to commemorate the anniversary will take place tomorrow morning at Westminster Abbey. Broadcast by the BBC at 11am (around 6am Eastern) it will feature a reading by William and a specially commissioned poem by the Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, read by Judi Dench.