Pensioners who fell in love while paying respect to Queen get married

by · Mail Online

A couple who fell in love while queuing to pay their respects for the late Queen lying in state have got married.

Joyce Lambert, 89, and Norman Giller, 85, exchanged vows at an intimate wedding in Southend-on-Sea on October 18 after a whirlwind romance of the last five years.

The pair got engaged just six weeks earlier when Norman took a knee and popped the question on the beachfront.

Joyce and Norman were both widowed before being introduced to each other by their children and said they haven't looked back since.

Norman, a former Fleet Street journalist, said finding love in his 80s was not something he ever expected, but said it's 'never too late to find love'.

Joyce Lambert, 89, and Norman Giller, 85, who fell in love while queueing to pay their respects for the late Queen have tied the knot saying you're never too late for love
Both Joyce and Norman were widowers before being introduced to each other by their children and said they haven't looked back since

He said: 'It's a wonderful feeling and neither of us expected it. 

'We're like a couple of kids. 

'Anyone who comes within range of us can feel our love. It's like we're spreading it around like pollen.'

Norman and Joyce met in 2019 and the pair quickly developed a strong relationship, bonding over a shared love of musical theatre.

Norman said: 'We realised we loved each other when we queued for 14 hours straight to pay our respects to the Queen.

'We've seen every show in town. 

'Les Misérables is our favourite show and we have seen it three times.

'We had our honeymoon in London and saw three shows; Les Misérables, Six and Operation Mincemeat.'

The OAP couple exchanged vows at an intimate wedding in Southend-on-Sea on October 18 after a whirlwind romance of the last five years
Norman and Joyce met in 2019 and the pair quickly developed a strong relationship, bonding over a shared love of musical theatre

Joyce, a former Tory councillor, was a close confidant of the much-loved Sir David Amess MP for Southend West.

She was due to be helping at his surgery on the day of his tragic death, but she was unusually, and thankfully, absent on the day.

Norman has had an impressive career himself as a sports journalist, screenwriter on This Is Your Life and author.

He served as the chief football reporter at the Daily Express and has written a staggering 121 books.

Norman said the pair's differences in politics weren't an issue for him but added: 'I might be Joyce's toy boy but I'm not her Tory boy.'

The now-married couple are happy to be enjoying finding love together in their eighth decade. Norman said: 'I've had the best life on earth.'