Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s was a love story that transcended time.
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, married the very dreamy Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
Elizabeth was 21 at the time of the proposal.
And on September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Her Majesty The Queen, 16 months after Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years, had died.
But their love story is one that will continue to be told in decades to come.
At one of their last public outings as an engaged couple, the Princess was overheard saying, “I am so happy my future husband is by my side!”
The sweet duo announced they were set to get married all the way back on July 10, 1947.
Sharing with the world a snap of the then 21-year-old Princess beaming as she showed off the elegant engagement ring presented to her by future husband, who was 26 at the time.
Just married!
It’s fair to say the couple were destined for greatness following their glorious royal wedding at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947.
Showing the world she’d be a humble queen, the Princess required ration coupons to buy the material of her wedding dress.
Their wedding took place at the end of the second world war.
Indeed, their long-standing relationship was based on their mutual love and respect but also a shared sense of humour – after all, Prince Philip was notoriously funny!.
In fact the 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh “traipse(d) around” and joked that he was the “fella who belongs to Mrs Queen”, rather than being “professionally qualified in something”.
Some things never end…
On the other hand, the monarch herself was very comfortable around her husband, with her former private secretary, Lord Charteris once admitting, “It is not unknown for the Queen to tell the Duke to shut up.”
Joking aside, it is clear that it was Philip’s utter devotion to his wife that was the backbone to their incredible partnership.
Their love was something to behold! Here, the royal couple make their way into granddaughter Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October 2018.
“My job first, second and last is never to let the Queen down,” he once sweetly said.
November 20 2022 marked what would have been their 75th wedding anniversary. The milestone came two months after Queen Elizabeth’s death. Now, the couple are united once more.
The Palace released this photograph of the pair in June 2020, just in time for the Duke’s 99th birthday.
In celebration of their romance, which will endure in history for decades to come, we’ve rounded up 11 times their love was proudly on display before they both passed.
1. The way they looked at each other
The Queen and the Duke never lost their flair when together.
2. Their shared love of the funnier things in life
Laughing their way through life made for a wonderful marriage, and Her Majesty’s prince had her in giggles during many a royal event.
3. They always kept calm and carried on
The pair were as merry as can be during Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2016.
4. They were each other’s confidantes
Always by her side, Prince Philip was The Queen’s number-one confidante. Pictured here at the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan day in London, the pair shared many sweet moments – we especially loved when the monarch gave her husband a “knowing” look.
5. They were tolerant of each other (his words, not ours)
6. They were barely ever apart in almost 71 years – and we have the pictures to prove it
When Philip first met Elizabeth he recalled: “You were so shy. I couldn’t get a word out of you.”
7. They were as dedicated to their children as they were to each other
Prince Philip watched his wife fondly as she presented the world her newborn son, Prince Andrew for his first appearance on Buckingham Palace’s balcony at Trooping the Colour in 1961.
8. They enjoyed each other’s company, inside the Palace and out
Dancing their way into wedded bliss, Philip spinned his love on the dance floor. The stylish duo looked straight out of a movie!
9. They made the picture-perfect pair at any royal engagement
For the charismatic Prince, in a crowded room, he only had eyes for his wife.
10. They continued to stand as a united front
“The secret of a happy marriage is to have different interests,” Prince Philip once said.
11. They not only served their people, but they served each other
Their withstanding relationship was based on their mutual love and respect and of course their shared sense of humour – proving that laughter is the best medicine!
