Photos Of Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip’s Most Picturesque Moments Over Their 73-Year Marriage

Aug 29, 2022 by apost team

The passing of the Duke of Edinburgh on April 9, 2021, left members of the royal family, as well as ardent supporters of the British monarchy, in grief. The accomplished and celebrated consort to Queen Elizabeth will always remain one of the most endearing members of the royal family. Prince Philip’s passing meant the end of his reign as the longest-serving royal spouse, having served alongside Queen Elizabeth II for 65 years and having been married to the monarch for 73 years.

Then on Sept. 8, 2022, Elizabeth passed away, ending her incredible 70-year reign as monarch. 

Throughout the couple's more than seven decades of marriage and longer as friends, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip shared many milestones together. As royals and public figures, many of these special moments were captured in photographs and on film so generations after could enjoy and learn more about them. These include personal moments such as their wedding, the birth of their children and family life, as well as their appearances at events in which they undertook their royal duties, many of which they did together.

The enduring love between Elizabeth and Philip will always be one for the ages. Their love budded when they were very young, and unlike other royal marriages that are often arranged, Elizabeth and Philip married for love. After doing so, they remained each other’s steadfast companions and supported one another through devastating times. 

While Elizabeth had the responsibility of becoming a queen thrust upon her early on, Philip had to make compromises and sacrifices to support the new queen. Through his actions and devotion to his wife, Philip became the perfect example of a royal consort and will remain an inspiration for decades to come. Read on to relive some of their most memorable moments together as royals of the British monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrated 73 years of marriage together, officially making theirs the longest royal marriage on record. Always by each other’s side, the couple endured a lot in their more than seven-decades-long relationship, which began not long after meeting each other for the first time. 

Elizabeth and Philip first met at the wedding of Philip’s cousin in 1934, when Elizabeth was 8 and Philip was 13. They met again when Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18, and the young royal found him to be very attractive indeed. During World War II, Philip was deployed overseas, but he and Elizabeth regularly exchanged letters. After he returned to England in 1946, he proposed to Elizabeth, and she accepted. However, due to royal family rules, they had to hide their engagement for several months until Elizabeth turned 21. Once the announcement was made, pictures of them together showed the happy couple constantly smiling until their wedding day on Nov. 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey.

The couple jetted off to their honeymoon at Broadlands in Hampshire. A year later, they welcomed their first child, King Charles III, on Nov. 14, 1948. They would go on to have three more children – Princess Royal Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. As the children grew into their own within the royal family, photographers were privy to official portraits released by the palace as well as select relaxed shots of the household. 

On Feb. 6, 1952, Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, died while she was in Kenya. Prince Philip reportedly heard the news first and was the one to tell Elizabeth about the tragic development. At only 25 years old, Elizabeth was coronated in Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953, and started her long reign as queen with Philip by her side.

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A key part of any marriage is tolerating your partner’s eccentricities and occasional bad moods. In a toast to the queen at their 50th wedding anniversary, Philip said:

“The main lesson that we have learned is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage. It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when the going gets difficult.”

Considering the queen was the longest-married monarch and Prince Philip was the world’s longest-serving consort, it’s clear the Duke of Edinburgh practiced what he preached regarding tolerance. Prince Philip truly rose to the challenge and was not only a great husband to Elizabeth but a stellar royal companion who saw his main role as assisting her.

Throughout her reign, the couple shared many moments in the spotlight together, notably on royal tours of Commonwealth countries, such as New Zealand in 1977, India in 1961 and the South Pacific in 1982. As well as making state visits, they also hosted public figures, most prominently then-president John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie at Buckingham Palace in 1961. 

They also made numerous appearances for the annual Trooping the Color ceremonies and Jubilee celebrations. They were also pictured at the many royal weddings that took place after the queen’s accession, including their son Charles’ wedding to Princess Diana in 1981, Prince Andrew’s wedding to Sarah Ferguson in 1986, Charles’ wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005, and their grandsons, Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011 and Prince Harry’s to Meghan Markle in 2018.

The stalwart partnership between Elizabeth and Philip was picture-perfect for an enduring and strong royal family. With Queen Elizabeth's passing, this loving couple has now been reunited in the afterlife.

What do you think of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s marriage? Do you feel like they were made for each other? Let us know and do remember to pass this on to family, friends and fans of the royal family.