Queen Elizabeth said ‘I do’ to the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip 73 years ago on November 20, 1947.
To honour their anniversary, a new image of the couple has been released. In the photograph, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are seen looking at an anniversary card made by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, alongside other cards and letters sent by well-wishers.
The photograph was taken by Chris Jackson Getty in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle earlier this week.
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The pair tied the knot at London’s Westminister Abbey back in 1947. 73 years later, they are the longest-married couple in the history of the British monarchy.
They met at a royal wedding when Queen Elizabeth was just eight years old. They fell in love after a second encounter when she was 13 and he 18, and began exchanging letters. In 1946, Philip asked King George VI for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The rest, as they say, is history.
The wedding did not go without incident, however. Elizabeth’s tiara snapped on the morning of the wedding, and Philip was stopped for speeding through central London on the day of the rehearsal dinner (November 19). He reportedly said at the time: “I’m sorry officer, but I’ve got an appointment with the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
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When she was just 25, Elizabeth’s ascended the throne on June 2, 1953, after her father’s death. Prince Philip was the first to swear allegiance to the new queen, describing himself as her “liege man of life and limb”.
The two have been by each other’s side for many years now, and are a beautiful example of a strong and steadfast marriage. “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years,” said Queen Elizabeth II as she described her husband on their golden anniversary in 1997.
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The timing of their anniversary is impeccable, as the Royal Family has been in the news after the latest season of The Crown premiered on November 15. The Netflix show, which chronicles the lives of the monarchy, has drawn criticism for its twisted retelling of facts about real people, many of whom are still alive.
Picture: Instagram / The Royal Family
