An 8-year-old Elizabeth met Philip in 1934 while attending a wedding for Princess Marina and Prince George. Five years later, the pair reconnected at ages 13 and 18 while they were at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. Their second encounter is where they fell in love and began exchanging letters.
“He is someone who doesn’t take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years,” the monarch said during a speech on her golden wedding anniversary in 1997. “And I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Elizabeth and Philip went on to become the longest-married couple in the history of the British royal family. “[Their love] has withstood the test of time primarily because they love one another very much,” royal expert Christopher Warwick told Vanity Fair in May 2020. “In a private capacity, he has always been deferred to by the queen as head of the family.”
The British historian continued, “It’s a very symbiotic relationship and a very firm partnership, starting off, of course, with these early meetings, this early correspondence — which became a friendship, which became affection, which became love.”
Philip, for his part, spoke about what he believed had helped create a long-lasting bond between the pair. “I think the main lesson that we have learned is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage,” he said while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997. “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.”
In November 2020, the duo marked 73 years of marriage, but their tale took a turn three months later when Philip was admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital as a “precautionary measure” after feeling ill. He was discharged one month later — his longest hospital stay to date — after receiving “treatment for an infection and a successful procedure for a preexisting condition.”
News broke in April 2021 that the duke had died at 99. “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle,” the family’s statement read. “The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. Further announcements will be made in due course.”
See the timeline below to relive their early romance, their engagement and wedding, and the ups and downs of their marriage.
Credit: Donald McKague/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s Love Story: A Timeline of the Royal Couple’s Seven-Decade Relationship
It’s been seven decades since Prince Philip wrote to Queen Elizabeth II to say he had “fallen in love completely and unreservedly” with her, and the couple stayed together until the Duke of Edinburgh's death in April 2021 — through marriage, childbirths, triumphs and trials.
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An 8-year-old Elizabeth met Philip in 1934 while attending a wedding for Princess Marina and Prince George. Five years later, the pair reconnected at ages 13 and 18 while they were at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. Their second encounter is where they fell in love and began exchanging letters.
After getting engaged in July 1947, they tied the knot that November at Westminster Abbey in London. They would go on to welcome four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
“He is someone who doesn’t take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years,” the monarch said during a speech on her golden wedding anniversary in 1997. “And I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
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Elizabeth and Philip went on to become the longest-married couple in the history of the British royal family. “[Their love] has withstood the test of time primarily because they love one another very much,” royal expert Christopher Warwick told Vanity Fair in May 2020. “In a private capacity, he has always been deferred to by the queen as head of the family.”
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The British historian continued, “It’s a very symbiotic relationship and a very firm partnership, starting off, of course, with these early meetings, this early correspondence — which became a friendship, which became affection, which became love.”
Philip, for his part, spoke about what he believed had helped create a long-lasting bond between the pair. “I think the main lesson that we have learned is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage,” he said while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997. “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.”
In November 2020, the duo marked 73 years of marriage, but their tale took a turn three months later when Philip was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital as a "precautionary measure" after feeling ill. He was discharged one month later — his longest hospital stay to date — after receiving "treatment for an infection and a successful procedure for a preexisting condition."
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News broke in April 2021 that the duke had died at 99. "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle," the family's statement read. "The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. Further announcements will be made in due course."
See the timeline below to relive their early romance, their engagement and wedding, and the ups and downs of their marriage.
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July 1939: First Meeting
While on a tour of the Royal Naval College, Elizabeth’s parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, asked Philip, then 18, to escort their children, Elizabeth, and Margaret. Philip and Elizabeth, then 13, began exchanging letters.
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
July 1947: Engagement Announced
Elizabeth and Philip’s engagement was announced in the court circular. “It is with the greatest of pleasure that the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly beloved daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten RN, son of the late Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Andrew … to which union the King has gladly given his consent,” the statement read.
Philip reportedly proposed to Elizabeth the prior summer, with King George VI agreeing to the union on the condition that the engagement would be announced after Elizabeth’s 21st birthday.
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
November 1947: Wedding
The royal couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in front of about 2,000 guests in a restrained ceremony in keeping with Britain’s post-war austerity. They honeymooned at the Scottish royal estate of Balmoral.
Credit: Rykoff Collection/Getty Images
November 1948: Birth of Charles
On November 14, 1948, just before Elizabeth and Philip celebrated their first wedding anniversary, they welcomed their first child: Charles Philip Arthur George.
Elizabeth and Philip were touring Kenya when word came through that George VI had died in his sleep, leaving Elizabeth the heir to the British throne. She returned to London and was proclaimed Queen and Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith, and she and Philip and their kids moved out of Clarence House and into Buckingham Palace.
Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
June 1953: Elizabeth’s Coronation
With more than 8,000 guests present at Westminster Abbey and 20 million people tuning in across the world, Elizabeth was coronated as Queen on June 2, 1953. During the coronation, Philip knelt and told her, “I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, do become your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship.”
Credit: AFP/Getty Images
February 1960: Birth of Andrew and Establishment of New Name
Just days before the birth of third child Andrew Albert Christian Edward on February 19, 1960, Elizabeth told the Privy Council that her descendants would carry the name Mountbatten-Windsor, a combination of her surname and Philip’s, so they would be distinguished from the rest of the royal family.
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March 1964: Birth of Edward
The couple welcomed their fourth and last child, Edward Antony Richard Louis, on March 10, 1964.
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November 1972: Silver Wedding Anniversary
As they celebrated 25 years of marriage, Elizabeth and Philip received approximately 15,000 letters and 2,500 telegrams from around the world — including congratulations from the kings of Tonga and Thailand and the emperors of Japan and Ethiopia.
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
November 1977: First grandchild
Princess Anne gave the royal couple their first grandchild when she and husband Mark Phillips welcomed Peter Mark Andrew Phillips on November 15, 1977.
Anne, hoping to give her children as normal a life as possible, turned down the queen’s offer to give her children royal titles.
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
November 1992: Elizabeth’s “Annus Horribilus”
“1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure,” Elizabeth said in a speech commemorating her 40th year as queen. “In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.”
That year alone, Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced their separation after 11 years of marriage, Prince Andrew separated from wife Sarah Ferguson, Anne divorced Mark Phillips, and Windsor Castle was severely damaged in a fire.
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November 1997: Golden Anniversary
Elizabeth and Philip marked their 50th wedding anniversary with a celebratory lunch at the Banqueting House in London. Of her husband, Elizabeth said, “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
Credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images
June 2002: Golden Jubilee Speeches
As the queen celebrated the 50th anniversary of her coronation, she praised Philip again, saying, “The Duke of Edinburgh has made an invaluable contribution to my life over these past 50 years.”
Credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images
November 2007: Diamond Wedding Anniversary
Prince William and Judi Dench were among those who gave readings at the couple’s diamond wedding service at Westminster Abbey. Ten other couples who share the same 60-year anniversary date also attended the service.
Credit: Shutterstock
April 2011: A Royal Occasion
Elizabeth and Philip attended the nuptials of their grandson Prince William and his wife, Duchess Kate.
Credit: Eddie Mulholland/Shutterstock
June 2012: A Supportive Spouse
Elizabeth paid a visit to Philip after he was admitted to the hospital for two nights after suffering from a bladder infection. His hospitalization caused him to miss that year’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London.
Credit: Shutterstock
June 2013: A High Honor
Elizabeth presented her husband with the Order of New Zealand, which is New Zealand’s highest honor, at Buckingham Palace.
Credit: Shutterstock
May 2016: Sticking Together
Philip joined Elizabeth when she gave a speech at the State Opening of Parliament, which marks the beginning of the parliamentary year.
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
June 2016: Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday Celebration
Though she was born on April 21, 1926, Elizabeth officially celebrates her birthday with a weekend of celebrations every June, following a tradition started by King George II in 1748. For the occasion of her 90th birthday and Philip’s 95th, celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz released a new portrait of the couple.
Credit: Ralph Heimans/Buckingham Palace/PA Wire via Getty Images
August 2017: Philip’s Retirement
After 22,220 solo public engagements, 637 solo overseas trips, 5,493 speeches and 14 books, Philip retired from royal duty, making his last official engagement on August 2, 2017, when he attended a Buckingham Palace parade honoring the Royal Marines.
Credit: AP/Shutterstock
November 2017: A Lasting Marriage
To celebrate Elizabeth and Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary, the royal palace unveiled new portraits of the longtime loves.
Credit: Alex Bramall/PA Wire/Shutterstock
October 2018: Another Romantic Gathering
Elizabeth and Philip witnessed their granddaughter Princess Eugenie say “I do” to her spouse, Jack Brooksbank.
Credit: Shutterstock
May 2018: Celebrating Love
The royal pair attended the wedding of Duchess Meghan and their grandson Prince Harry.
Credit: Shutterstock
January 2019: A Scary Accident
Philip was hospitalized after his involvement in a car collision near the Sandringham Estate, where his vehicle ultimately rolled. He sustained no injuries from the incident.
Credit: Shutterstock
June 2020: Philip’s 99th Birthday
The duo posed for a new photo that was released in honor of Philip’s 99th birthday.
Credit: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
November 2020: 73rd Wedding Anniversary
Ahead of their 73rd wedding anniversary, the longtime pair were photographed looking at a card that their great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, gave to them to commemorate the occasion.
Credit: Nick Harvey/Shutterstock
April 2021: The Death of Philip
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the duke "passed away peacefully" at Windsor Castle shortly after his one-month hospital stay. Philip was treated for an infection and underwent surgery for a preexisting condition after being admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in February 2021 as a "precautionary measure."
Days after his funeral, the queen rang in her 95th birthday without her beloved spouse.
“I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate. While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world,” she said in a statement on April 21, 2021. “My family and I would like to thank you for all the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.”
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April 2021: The Funeral
The queen honored Philip at his funeral in April 2021 by placing a handwritten note on top of his casket at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The letter, written on her stationery, appeared to read, “I love you,” and included her childhood nickname, “Lilibet.” During the services, Elizabeth was spotted wiping away a tear as she sat alone due to COVID-19 protocols.
Credit: Victoria Jones/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
December 2021: 1st Christmas Without Philip
The queen paid tribute to her late husband during her annual Christmas address on December 25, with her speech, broach from their honeymoon and a photo of him on the table beside her. “Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why,” her majesty said. “But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work — from around the country, the Commonwealth and the world.”
She continued: “His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation — were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him. But life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings; and as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas. And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year.”
A source exclusively told Us later that month, “Christmas was a bit of a struggle for the queen without Prince Philip by her side.”
Credit: Richard Pohle/Pool/Shutterstock
March 2022: Philip’s Memorial
Elizabeth attended a memorial service for her late spouse at Westminster Abbey. The couple’s four children attended the program with son Prince Andrewescorting Elizabeth to her seat.
Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
April 2022: 1st Anniversary of Philip’s Death
The queen’s official Twitter account honored Philip by sharing an audio recording “The Patriarchs – An Elegy” by U.K. Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. The social media caption read, “Remembering His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the first anniversary of his death.”
Credit: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock
September 2022: The Death of Elizabeth
The longest-reigning British monarch died at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.
Credit: Illustrated London News/Shutterstock
September 2022: Buried Together
After a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, the queen had a committal service at St George's Chapel. Her coffin was lowered into the royal vault as the televised memorial ended. Hours later, she was laid to rest privately alongside her late husband.
“A Private Burial took place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel later that evening, conducted by the Dean of Windsor,” the royal website announced on Monday, September 19, in the official recap of the state funeral held hours earlier. “The Queen was buried together with The Duke of Edinburgh, at The King George VI Memorial Chapel.”
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