Love Against All Odds: The Enduring Romance of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
The love story between Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, and the charming soldier, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, is a tale worthy of a Disney film. Spanning over 70 years, their story began in the 1930s, making Prince Philip the longest-serving royal consort in British history. Let’s dive into the origins of their love.
It all started in the summer of 1939 when Princess Elizabeth was just 13 years old. Prince Philip, who was five years her senior and about to begin his career in the Royal Navy, caught her eye. The young princess, accompanied by her sister Princess Margaret and their parents, visited Dartmouth’s Britannia Royal Naval College, where their father had studied. It was during this trip that the dashing cadet Prince Philip, a distant cousin of Elizabeth’s, entered the scene. Marion Crawford, the princesses’ governess, revealed in her memoir, “The Little Princesses,” that Elizabeth was attracted to Philip’s striking looks, including his fair hair and blue eyes. Philip would join the King’s yacht for meals, causing Elizabeth to blush with excitement. His uncle, Lord Mountbatten, who was also present on the yacht, noted their positive connection in his diary, describing their meeting as a “great success.”
Some of the Queen’s relatives openly spoke about Elizabeth’s affection for Philip during those early days. Margaret Rhodes, Elizabeth’s cousin, wrote in her autobiography that “Elizabeth was truly in love from the very beginning.”
However, the engagement didn’t happen immediately. It took eight years, after the war, for Prince Philip to propose. Finally, in 1947, their marriage ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey. Little did Elizabeth know that within five years, she would ascend to the throne and become Queen Elizabeth II.
Fast forward to the 9th of April 2021, when Prince Philip passed away. The couple had been married for a remarkable 74 years, and they were blessed with four children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Together, they traveled extensively around the world, representing the Commonwealth in countries such as Australia, America, Antigua, and India. They approached their duties and service with unwavering dedication and always managed to find moments of laughter to lighten the burden of public life, supporting each other every step of the way.
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