The longest-married living couple that we know of in the UK are Allan and Dorothy McDowell, who got married on 26th September 1941. At 82 years and 138 days, it's a pretty mighty feat. Their daughter is very interested in their record, and it's made me ponder exactly where they rank in the world.
I'd invite people to post the longest marriages they can find here (maybe a minimum of 80 years).
I believe the longest marriage that has reasonable clarity and recognition is that between Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher.
They were married on 13 May 1924 and the marriage lasted 86 years and 290 days, until Herbert’s passing on 27 Feb 2011.
Less reliable suggestions include Karam and Kartari Chand of Bradford, in England, supposedly for 90 years. 291 days.
I do remember this couple and pictures of Mrs Chand who looked remarkably young for the marriage duration suggested. If I recall correctly the children of the marriage were also “rather young” for the supposed marriage duration. I’ll see if I can track that one down in the next 24 hours or so.
Mr. Gottfried and Mrs. Ursula Schmelzer - of Bad Sobernheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany -
are Germany´s longest married living couple . They celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary.
Gottfried (102 y.o.) and Ursula (98 y.o.) married on 17 May 1944 in Berlin. Mr. Schmelzer came in the year before (1943) from Romania,
presumably were he was born as 'Volksdeutscher' with German ancestors.
According to the dpa (German Press Agency), the State chancellery Rhineland-Palatinate confirmed that they are Germans longest married living couple.
Congratulations, all the best. God bless you.
Source: Vasabladet 29.9.2024, p.7
https://www.tvl.be/nieuws/huwelijkspaar-in-helchteren-82-jaar-getrouwd-172919
Mr. Eduard Cuyvers (101) and Ms. Angeline Haeseldonckx will celebrate their 82th wedding anniversary tomorrow.
They married on 30 January 1943.
On 30 January 2023 they became the first Belgian couple to reach 80 years of marriage.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
https://longeviquest.com/2025/02/worlds-longest-marriage-brazilian-couple-marks-84-years-together/
LongeviQuest is delighted to announce that, as of 5 February 2025, we have verified the world’s longest-lasting marriage where both spouses are still living—one of the longest unions ever recorded in history. Through extensive research conducted by Iara Souza, Gabriel Ainsworth, and Filipe Lopes, it has been confirmed that this remarkable title belongs to a couple from Ceará, Brazil. Manoel Angelim Dino (105) and Maria de Sousa Dino (101) have been married since 20 November 1940, and as of today, they have spent an astonishing 84 years and 77 days together in marriage.
Manoel Angelim Dino and Maria de Sousa Dino were born on 17 July 1919, and 23 April 1923, respectively, in Boa Viagem, Ceará, Brazil.
The couple first met around 1936 while working in agriculture, helping their families. Manoel had traveled to the Almeida region in the Boa Viagem district to collect a shipment of rapaduras (a traditional Brazilian candy) when he first encountered Maria. However, nothing came of their meeting at the time. Years later, fate brought them together again, and on 20 November 1940, they were married. At the time, they were 21 and 17, respectively.
From the moment Manoel saw Maria again, he fell in love at first sight. Wasting no time, he expressed his feelings and asked her out. Maria was unaware of his romantic interest at the time. They met and never separated. However, Maria’s mother was initially opposed to the relationship. Determined to win over his future in-laws, Manoel patiently gained their trust and even began building a home for the family he was about to start.
After their wedding, the couple worked side by side in agriculture, cultivating rolled tobacco to support their growing family. They suffered a lot in the countryside. Over the years, they raised 13 children (eight are living), and the family grew to include 55 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Now in their later years, their days are peaceful. Due to his age, Manoel spends most of his time resting, only getting up in the evening to sit beside his wife in the living room. Every evening at 6 p.m., they listen to the rosary prayer on the radio, followed by Mass on television.
The couple stated that the key to a long life lies in refraining from vices, and according to Maria, the secret to a long and happy marriage is simple: love.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
The GWR has recognized Manoel Angelim Dino (105) and Maria de Sousa Dino (101) from Brazil and married in 1940 as the world's longest marriage for a living couple. LQ was mentioned as the validator of the record.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)