Love Story: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, were married at Westminster Abbey. More than 70 years later, and with four children, the royal couple have always remained united. Back to their legendary love story.
Married for 73 years, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip hold the record for longevity of royal couples in British history. The Queen and the Prince Consort have overcome many hardships together, but have always shown themselves united to protect their children and the crown.
The meeting between Elizabeth and Philip
Born Prince of Greece and Denmark on June 10, 1921, Philip Mountbatten met Princess Elizabeth, his first cousin, in 1934, at the wedding of Princess Marine of Greece and Denmark, and George, Duke of Kent, Elizabeth's uncle . The young princess is only eight years old, Philip is thirteen. They are both the great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.
In 1939, a second meeting took place, at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England. Philip was then a young cadet in the Royal Navy, and was 18 years old. Elizabeth, then 13, went there with her sister Margaret and her parents. Two years earlier, his father George VI was crowned king after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. Another fate awaits young Elizabeth. One day, she will be queen.
The following years were marked by the Second World War. But the two future spouses meet at events within the royal family. Beside, they begin to communicate by written correspondence.
At Vanity Fair US, the specialist of the royal family, Christopher Warwick, explains that their romance was built gradually. Several members of Philip's family then hope for a union with Princess Elizabeth, and in particular Lord Mountbatten, who raised the subject with King George VI. "She is much too young. If this is to happen, let it happen naturally," he would have said, explains the specialist.
The engagement and marriage of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
In 1946, Philip asked George VI for Elizabeth's hand. According to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, the king asked his future son-in-law to wait a year for Elizabeth to turn 21 and be of age.
For the royal family, this marriage is not ideal, but is accepted. From an unstable family pattern, Prince Philip's fortune remains modest. Her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was placed in an asylum. His father lives in Monte-Carlo. He grew up with his grandmother and uncle in Britain, but does not have British nationality.
If this union displeases Elizabeth's family, it is not to the liking of Philip's either. Her four sisters married Nazi dignitaries. To marry the future sovereign, Philip gives up his royal titles of Greece and Denmark and is naturalized British.
The engagement was finally announced on July 10, 1947. For the occasion, an official photo was published. Elizabeth and Philip were married on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey. Philip then becomes Duke of Edinburgh. Their marriage is followed on the radio by nearly 200 million people around the world.
Despite a brilliant military career in the Royal Navy, the Duke was forced to step down on the death of King George VI in 1952. Elizabeth's coronation took place in 1953. Philip became Prince Consort of the United Kingdom.
Elizabeth and Philip, parents of four children
A year after their marriage, Prince Charles was born on November 14, 1948, followed by Princess Anne in 1950.
At this time, Elizabeth and Philip are busy with their royal engagements. Prince George was ill, they are responsible for representing the crown and are making several state visits. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were just in Kenya, on a Commonwealth tour, when George VI died on February 6, 1952.
Charles and Anne are raised by a housekeeper, Catherine Peebles, and several nannies. In 1960, Prince Andrew was born, followed by Edward, in 1964. This time, Elizabeth and Philip have more time for their children. They have ruled the UK for several years.
Philip, in the shadow of Elizabeth II
When Elizabeth takes the throne, Philip also becomes the Queen's personal advisor. As a prince consort, he must also learn to live in the shadow of his wife.
Initially, the situation is difficult. He will sometimes try to bring his ideas, but will come up against the refusals of the queen mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who wants the reign of her daughter to continue in the line of that of King George VI, her father.
Several connections have been loaned to Prince Philip, with actresses Pat Kirkwood, Jane Russell, Shirley MacLaine, or Zsa Zsa Gabor. Today, these adventures are closer to rumors than to reality.
The Crown series also helped paint an unflattering portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh, especially in the second season. As the American edition of Marie Claire emphasizes, several elements related in the series are purely fictitious. But one thing is certain. The Duke of Edinburgh had some disagreements with Queen Elizabeth in the '80s and' 90s over Diana Spencer, whom he has always been close to, despite her unhappy marriage to her eldest son.
A couple standing the test of time
Despite the storms, Philip remains the confidant and first counselor of Elizabeth II. The proof of their connection lies in a decision taken in 1960. The descendants of Elizabeth II and Philip take the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. The union of their two names is innovative and contrary to custom, which would like only Windsor, the name of the reigning royal family, to appear.
On the occasion of their golden wedding in 1997, the queen declared about him in a speech: "He has simply been my strength during all these years and remains so. And me, and his entire family , and this country, and many other countries, we owe him more than he will ever say. "
He has simply been my strength for all these years and remains so.
The photographs taken over the years bear witness to their complicity. In recent years, the couple have enjoyed watching and commenting on polo matches sitting next to each other. Privately, the prince calls the queen "Lilibet" and "Sausage".
Weakened by several health problems, the Duke of Edinburgh retired from public life in 2017. The couple celebrated their 73 years of marriage in November 2020.
"He is my rock. He was simply my strength and my support," said the monarch, in 2011 before announcing the death of her husband on April 9, 2021 via a press release from Buckigham Palace. "It is with deep sadness that Her Majesty The Queen announces the passing of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. further announcements will be made in due course. "
