Queen Elizabeth And Prince Philip Are All Smiles As They Celebrate Being Married For 73 Years

Nov 20, 2020 by apost team

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip celebrate their 73rd anniversary today! They are seen posing with a sweet gift from their great-grandchildren on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The reigning monarch and her husband have had the longest marriage in the history of the Royal Family. Married in 1947, neither one of them could have predicted at the time that Princess Elizabeth would soon become the reigning monarch, nor that she would go on to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history. 

Queen Elizabeth was a mere 25 years old when she ascended the throne, and having been married for only five years in 1952, both Princess Elizabeth and at the time, the Duke of Edinburgh were thrust into their new roles. Queen Elizabeth became the first monarch who acceded to the throne while abroad, as she was in Kenya at the time her father, George VI, passed away, according to the Royal Website.  

While Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth, under the rules of the Royal family, the Duke of Edinburgh is not automatically given the title of a “King” reports Town And Country. Men who are married to a British monarch are given the title “Prince Consort,” though it would be another 10 years until Prince Philip would officially be crowned as a British Prince in 1962. 

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Prince Philip has royal roots himself: he was the Prince of Greece and Denmark and was born when his parents Prince Andrew and Princess Alice were still reigning over Greece, according to the Royal Website. However, after political turmoil broke out, his family left Greece. Prince Philip adopted the name Mountbatten when he became a “naturalized British subject” and renounced his title just one day before marrying Princess Elizabeth. 

The couple first met in 1934 when they attended the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, to Elizabeth's uncle, the Duke of Kent, reports ABC News. Princess Elizabeth was only 13 years old at the time. They announced their engagement on July 9, 1947, and were married 4 months later at Westminster Abbey as per the Royal Website. They share 4 children together: Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

In a subtle gesture to her long relationship with Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth wore her Chrysanthemum Brooch on her pale blue wool dress in her 73rd-anniversary photograph. This beautiful piece is jewelry is made of sapphires and diamonds and is set in platinum. According to the Royal Jewellery Blog, “she received it in 1946 when she launched an oil tanker, appropriately named the British Princess.” 

She was first photographed wearing this dazzling piece as she strolled through the gardens in Broadland during her honeymoon in Hampshire in 1947. She wore it again in 2007 as she marked her 60th anniversary and posed with Prince Philip for their official portrait. Speaking of Prince Philip on her 50th anniversary in 1997, ABC reports that she said, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years."

In their 73 years together and as the currently reigning couple, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth have watched and experienced all major world events unfold. Today, they are also affected by the current pandemic, which as seen most of the countries around the world go into lockdown to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

Prince Philip, who usually lives at the Wood Farm in Sandringham, Norfolk joined the Queen at Windsor Castle ahead of the first lockdown in March this year, where they have been living for the last 8 months, reports The Daily Mail. They have been completing their royal duties from home during this time, and have not met many members of their family during this time. 

The official picture of the Queen and Prince for their anniversary was taken earlier this week by photographer Chris Jackson and was posted to the Royals’ official Instagram account. In the photo, the couple is seen looking at a colorful and cheerful anniversary card made by their great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Other cards and letters sent by well-wishers are also seen in the photo. 

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have 8 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, and will be welcoming their 9th great-grandchild in the spring of 2021 as their granddaughter Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are set to welcome their first child. 

While large scale celebrations are not possible this year due to the coronavirus, the Queen and her husband will certainly have more to celebrate next year if some normalcy returns to the world: Prince Philip celebrates his 100th birthday in June, reports People. Moreover, it was also announced recently that plans are underway for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to celebrate her 70 years on the throne in 2022.

With all that is coming up and all that has happened, we can be certain that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are looking forward to celebrating their anniversary together today. We here at Apost wish them a very happy anniversary!

Join us in wishing the Queen and Prince Philip a very happy anniversary! Let us know your thoughts about the royal pair below, and be sure to share this beautiful photo with your friends as well!