Celebrations will begin on Sunday evening to mark the diamond wedding anniversary of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Prince of Wales is hosting a party for his parents at Clarence House, with more than 20 close members of the Royal Family to attend.

Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princes William and Harry will be among those toasting the couple's 60-year milestone at the black tie do.

On Monday, the day before their anniversary, the Queen and Philip will attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, where they married on November 20, 1947.

Some 2,000 people including senior royals, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former leaders Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major, religious representatives, military chiefs of staff and some of the Queen's godchildren, are on the guest list.

Around 500 members of Royal Household staff - past and present - have also been invited, along with some 20 members of the public from around the country who all married on the same day as the Queen and the Duke.

In keeping with the public's strong anti-German feeling in the wake of the Second World War, none of the Royal Family's German relations, nor Philip's sisters, who married Germans, were invited to the wedding.

However some of the Duke's distant German relations will be present to mark the anniversary - his niece Grand Duchess Princess Margarita of Baden has been invited, as have other family members the Margrave and Margravine of Baden and Prince and Princess Ludwig of Baden.

Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten wed on Thursday November 20 1947.

On Tuesday - the day of their diamond wedding anniversary - the Queen and the Duke will fly to Malta, where the Duke spent time on naval service in the early part of their marriage.

The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a diamond wedding.

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