A man who married a pensioner when he was just 18 years old has shared a heartfelt tribute as his bride celebrates her 80th birthday.
Gary Hardwick, now 26, married his wife Almeda in 2015 just two weeks after meeting her at her son's funeral.
The happy couple, who are from Tennessee, made headlines around the world with their whirlwind romance and confirmed they consummated the marriage on their wedding night.
Now, they are celebrating another milestone after eight years of marriage, as Almeda has reached 80 years old.
Gary took to Instagram to wish his sweetheart a happy birthday, writing: "Happy birthday to the most amazing wife in the world. Today is not only your day, but most importantly, today is about celebrating the birth of such a wonderful & true woman with such a heart of gold.
"I’m the luckiest husband for everyday that I get to wake up beside you. You make me the happiest man each and everyday and I want to always make you the happiest woman.
"You deserve the world and until my last breath I’ll work hard to give you that. All of my happiest moments are moments I share with you. I hope you have the best birthday ever today and I hope you enjoy all of your surprises my love."
He added: "You’re truly the love of my lifetime and I love you with every beat of my heart. Here’s to celebrating my queen. Happy Birthday Babydoll."
Gary was just 17 when he first met Almeda, but waited until he turned 18 to marry her with the blessing of his mother and grandmother.
The couple moved into Almeda's house after their wedding, along with one of her grandsons who is three years older than Gary.
Gary previously revealed that he never feels as if he is "missing out" by being married to someone so much older than him.
He explained, as reported by the Daily Mail: "I've never been attracted to younger women. Even when I was 13 or 14, I've always had an attraction to older women and when I told my grandmother, who raised me, I didn't know how she would take it but she accepted us."
Almeda also revealed in a YouTube video shared by the couple that her first marriage had lacked in physical affection, though it gave her four children and six grandchildren.
She said at the time: "I was married for 43 years and there wasn't a lot of kissy, huggy stuff going on… no romance. [My current relationship] it's a whirlwind.
"We are always complimenting [each other] and kissing. We're enjoying our relationship. When you meet that perfect one, that's when you know you don't want to lose that feeling."
As well as writing a heartfelt message for Almeda, Gary revealed he had made her dinner for her birthday, as well as getting her a karaoke machine among her gifts, including wine and chocolates galore.
He wrote alongside the photos: "Wine infused salmon supper, really good wine, birthday cake, and surprises for my
babydoll."
Happy birthday Almeda!
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