Prince Philip’s Body Was Moved After Queen Elizabeth Died So They Can Rest Together Forever

Sep 29, 2022 by apost team

On many occasions, husbands and wives are usually buried in the same places when they pass away. But in the world of the British Royal Family, this tradition might be unlikely because of the complex regulations in place. When Prince Phillip peacefully died in April 2021, the United Kingdom mourned in a special way – isolated from the masses that adored them. Initially, his coffin was placed in St George's Chapel, within Windsor Castle's grounds. But due to the wishes of her wife, Queen Elizabeth, this would not be his husband's final resting place. 

On Apr. 9, 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away at the age of 99. Not long before his death, Queen Elizabeth's beloved husband was discharged from the hospital after spending several days there due to complications with an infection.

Philip's infection was reportedly not due to coronavirus, as he and the queen were vaccinated in January 2021, according to BBC. Philip's passing ended his reign as the longest-serving royal spouse, having served alongside Elizabeth for 65 years and having been married to the monarch for 73 years in total.

Philip's funeral took place on Apr. 17, 2021. However, the number of guests was limited due to coronavirus restrictions. The grief of his passing was felt deeply in the United Kingdom.

Following his death, a significant number of tributes and condolences poured in. His singular and incredible life has continued to be remembered and celebrated by his family. While Philip had a large number of achievements and accolades to his name, nothing will ever surpass the fact that he was the love of Elizabeth's life and that he was the most devoted consort to the queen. The Duke of Edinburgh was an active and dedicated member of the royal family ever since Queen Elizabeth's crowning.   

According to Biography.com, Philip met his future wife, Elizabeth, for the first time in 1934, when both families attended the marriage of his cousin to Elizabeth's uncle and met once again when Elizabeth's father, King George VI, was crowned. They began their relationship when Elizabeth was still a teenager, and their relationship continued to become stronger through the years. 

Unlike many royal marriages that are arranged matches, this marriage is based entirely on love. According to Reader's Digest, Elizabeth and Philip first met at the wedding of Philip's cousin in 1934, when she was eight and Philip was 13. They met again when she was 13 and Philip was 18, and the young Elizabeth found him to be very attractive indeed.

CNN reported that upon seeing Philip jump over the tennis court nets at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in July 1939, Elizabeth said to her governess, Marion Crawford, "How high he can jump!" Elizabeth had, until that point in her life, led a rather sheltered existence, surrounded mostly by her sister Princess Margaret and her governess. Upon touring the college with her family, she was believed to be instantly dazzled by Philip, and her fascination was obvious to those around her. Dickie Mountbatten, Philip's uncle, was pleased with this, as he was hoping to encourage marriage between the two. At this point, it wasn't only their age that would be a barrier until they could be together, but the world was on the brink of World War II. Philip, who was studying at the naval college, would soon be off on active service.

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Before Philip got married to Elizabeth, he was required to give up his titles and succession to the throne in Greece. He did so willingly and took on his mother's surname Mountbatten, and ever since remained steadfast in his service to his country. Philip served with the Royal Navy during World War II and continued his active service until Elizabeth acceded to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952.

They announced their engagement on Jul. 8, 1947, and married a few months later on Nov. 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom. There have been rumors that the rest of the royal family were not pleased with Elizabeth's choice of husband, but she insisted upon her choice, Reader's Digest reported. 

Philip and Elizabeth celebrated their 73rd anniversary in November 2020. They embodied the meaning of true love, and their unconditional and unwavering support for one another was an inspiration to many people over the years. With Phillip's passing last 2021, his marriage to Queen Elizabeth II is considered the longest royal marriage in the history of the British monarchy.

The couple has been public with their expression of love throughout the years. Even Elizabeth's father, King George VI, has been upfront with his support for the couple. According to Vogue, the late King was confident that Philip would make a great consort once Elizabeth took on the role of queen. 

"One day Lilibet will be queen and he will be consort. That's much harder than being a king, but I think he's the man for the job," King George said. 

Eventually, King George VI passed away in his sleep due to coronary thrombosis six days later after his last public appearance, and Elizabeth took over. He had developed lung cancer because of his heavy smoking. 

Aside from King George, many Royal Family insiders have testified how Prince Phillip seemed to have been matchmade with Queen Elizabeth II. 

In a Tatler interview in May 2021, Lady Prudence Penn, a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth, described the late Prince Philip as both a "heaven-sent consort" while also describing him as quite "practical."

"I loved the way he would boost the Queen's ego by telling her how lovely she looked on their way to an engagement," Penn said of Philip's treatment of the queen. "He knew how to bring the best out of a woman, and I am sure his advice and encouragement to her were paramount in their relationship. To my mind, the Duke of Edinburgh was a heaven-sent consort for Her Majesty in every way."

Beyond commending Philip for his companionship with the queen, Penn also had high praise for his good looks and practical personality.

"There has been an avalanche of praise for the life and work of Prince Philip, and rightly so. In the summer of 1947, I met him for the first time and was immediately struck by the physical perfection of this fair-haired young man – such a complement to the beauty of Princess Elizabeth," Penn told the publication.

"He was one of the most practical men I have ever met. He was intensely interested in so many things, always curious to know more and, if possible, to make improvements," she added.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's marriage was not free from speculations and rumors from either other members of the Royal Family or the public. 

According to Readers Digest, Prince Phillip became a subject of infidelity rumors during the queen's reign. He was infamously linked to suspense novelist Daphne du Maurier. Ingrid Seward, a Royal expert, told British Heritage that du Maurier and the late Prince Phillip's relationship was "emotionally intimate" but not sexual. 

She recalls a particular moment before Elizabeth and Phillip's wedding when the latter visited Cornwall with the novelist. At the weekend before returning from his vacation, Phillip allegedly told her about his rather unpredictable plan. 

"I don't want to go back, I want to stay with you.' Du Maurier told him not to be silly: 'Your country needs you.'"

Daphne du Maurier was not the last one to be connected with Prince Phillip. In an episode of Netflix's "The Crown," a dramatization of Queen Elizabeth and the British Royal Family's life, it was depicted in an episode a supposed affair that Prince Phillip had with a Russian ballerina, Galina Ulanova, People Magazine reports. 

Ulanova was considered one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. In the series, Queen Elizabeth was seen hiding a gift in his husband's suitcase when he saw a photograph of the famed dancer. The two then locked eyes on each other when the queen saw Ulanova perform in Giselle. Robert Lacey, "The Crown's" consultant, has explained to the publication the meaning of the scene. 

"People have often said, 'He must have been unfaithful,' but there is no solid evidence for that. When you've seen the episodes, you get the feeling why people make that supposition. But there is no evidence for it," he pointed out. 

But despite the allegations that have risen, Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth's marriage have endured and withered the storms that have come and gone over the years. With their love, they have raised four children: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, despite great odds and pressure from the crown. 

Queen Elizabeth admitted as much in a speech in 1977, saying that Philip has been her strength over the years. 

Prince Philip was an active man who was eager to get involved in royal work. In the beginning, he experienced some prejudice for wanting to carve out a larger role for himself, but his patience and dedication to the queen gained him respect from the public and governments alike. As his grandson Prince William pointed out, as reported by CNN, "he totally put his personal career aside to support her, and he never takes the limelight." 

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 that 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. The queen commented on his support in her Diamond Jubilee speech in 2012, where she recognized that while he was "well-known for declining compliments of any kind," he had been a "constant strength and guide" to her. 

Sadly, Prince Phillip passed away on Apr. 9, 2021, and left Queen Elizabeth and the entire British Royal Family in mourning. 

Philip's exact cause of death was not released publically, but in an official statement, the palace said he went peacefully. His death set off Operation Forth Bridge, which was the plan for publically announcing his death and the ensuing funeral arrangements.

As Prince Philip was not a monarch, he wasn't given a state funeral but a royal ceremonial funeral instead. Due to the pandemic restrictions, the funeral was very small — only 30 people were allowed to attend. Many royal family members were a part of the funeral, including Prince Harry, who arrived from the United States, where he lives with Meghan Markle.

At the time, Express reported that the royal family arranged for the funeral to be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where Philip's coffin remained until the late queen died, after which the Duke of Edinburgh was interred and buried alongside his wife of 73 years. After Elizabeth passed on Sept. 8, 2022, official arrangements were executed to ensure that the couple were buried together.

The national period of mourning was first finished before burial was complete. After the mourning period was complete, Queen Elizabeth's remains were buried at the King George VI memorial chapel, which is the resting place of her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret. Philip was interred to join Elizabeth at the memorial chapel. 

Loyal fans of Phillip and Elizabeth have viewed the royal family's decision to bury them together as a grand poignant gesture and a symbol of love that has held the kingdoms together for the entire duration of the queen's reign. 

Although their marriage has faced tons of challenges throughout the years, Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth's love for each other has been proven unconditional and timeless. What do you think about their marriage? How will you remember the couple? What do you think about Prince Philip's body being moved to be buried together with Queen Elizabeth II? Let us know, and don't hesitate to forward this to your family, friends, and other fellow fans of the British royal family.