The enduring union between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip was marked by a profound sense of commitment to each other and their royal duties. Historian and royal author Tessa Dunlop highlights this dual dedication as the cornerstone of their successful partnership, noting how they 'prioritised their marriage as much as they prioritised the monarchy'.
While there are varying accounts of when the royal couple first crossed paths, official records pinpoint the grand wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark to Prince George, Duke of Kent on 29 November 1934. At this event, the then Princess Elizabeth of York was just eight years old, while Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was 13.
'The Queen genuinely quite fancied Philip in the early days, which was quite unusual in royal marriages, and of course, more importantly, they both understood what it meant to be married in the monarchy,' reveals Tessa, who penned 'Elizabeth and Philip: A Story Of Young Love, Marriage, And Monarchy'. 'They also had a very independent marriage. They had very separate hobbies and interests, for instance. Philip was into his cows, and Elizabeth was obsessed with horses. They also both had deep and dear friendships outside their marriage, sometimes with the opposite sex. This really strengthened their union in the long term.'
During her Coronation address on the evening of 2 June 1953, the Queen memorably declared to her subjects, 'I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.' Yet Elizabeth emphasised she wasn't making this commitment alone, stating, 'In this resolve I have my husband to support me. He shares all my ideals and all my affection for you.'
The Queen honoured her husband in another address, given at a luncheon marking their golden wedding anniversary at London's Banqueting House in 1997. 'All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking. Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner. He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years.'
Only the day before, the duke had praised his wife's patience and resilience during a prestigious lunch held by the Lord Mayor of London. 'The main lesson that we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage,' he said. 'It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when the going gets difficult. You can take it from me that the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.'
