'His job, first, second and last was never to let her down': The magical marriage of the Fairy Princess and Prince Charming cheered post-war Britain and lasted 73 years
- Prince Philip wowed Elizabeth at their first official meeting when he was 18 and she was just 13
- Philip was invited to spend Christmas 1943 with the Royal Family at Windsor four years later
- By the end of the Second World War newspapers were speculating about the couple's relationship
- The wedding captured the public's imagination in the austere post-war days of November 1947Good-looking and blond-haired, the tall, athletic Prince of Greece impressed the young Princess - then known as Lilibet - by jumping over the college tennis nets at their first publicised meeting.
They had been present together on various occasions, including the wedding in 1934 of Philip's cousin Princess Marina, later Duchess of Kent, to Princess Elizabeth's uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent, and at the coronation of George VI in 1937.
But it was at Dartmouth, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the naval college with their two daughters, that Philip, then 18, and the 13-year-old Elizabeth had their first official meeting in July 1939. From that time, they maintained a regular correspondence and met on several occasions.
A portrait of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace to mark the engagement of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Philip Mountbatten (later Duke of Edinburgh), in July 1947. Left to right: Princess Elizabeth, Philip Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900 - 2002), King George VI (1895 - 1952) and Princess Margaret (1930 - 2002)
Good-looking and blond-haired, the Prince of Greece impressed the young Princess by jumping over the college tennis nets at their first publicised meeting. Pictured: Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in a wedding photograph in 1947
They had been present together on various occasions, including at the coronation of George VI in 1937. Pictured: The couple in an official photograph from their wedding on November 20, 1947
It was at Dartmouth, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the naval college with their two daughters, that Philip and Elizabeth had their first official meeting in July 1939. Pictured: The couple at Westminster Abbey
This was the official portrait taken of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh after their wedding ceremony. Bridesmaid Princess Margaret stands beside the groom and Princess Alexander of Kent is fourth from leftPhilip was invited to spend Christmas 1943 with the Royal Family at Windsor and by the end of the war newspapers were speculating about their relationship.
There was, however, some disapproval and suspicion of this foreign Prince in the post-war years. Old-school courtiers were concerned that he was not a traditional English gentleman, even though he had fought for Britain in the Navy.But Philip and Elizabeth were already in love. It has been suggested that they became unofficially engaged in the summer of 1946 while they were staying at Balmoral, but the official announcement was delayed until after Princess Elizabeth reached the age of 21 and returned from a royal tour of South Africa.
Philip applied for British nationality and in February 1947 became a naturalised British subject, renouncing his Greek royal title.
He adopted a new surname, but decided against Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg - the family name of the Danish royal house from which his father was descended.
Philip had a stag night with his Navy colleagues, including his uncle Earl Mountbatten (who is hiding the cigar), in 1941
Philip and Elizabeth are showered with confetti as they depart for their honeymoon. Newspapers had begun speculating about the pair's relationship by the end of World War Two
From that time, they maintained a regular correspondence and met on several occasions. Elizabeth is pictured here about to get into a carriage outside Westminster Abbey
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their wedding. Left to right: King George VI, bridesmaids Princess Margaret, Lady Mary Cambridge, the royal couple, and Queen ElizabethInstead he settled on Mountbatten, an Anglicised version of Battenberg, his mother's family name.
The style of His Royal Highness was authorised shortly before his marriage on November 20, 1947 at Westminster Abbey and he was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, and made a Knight of the Garter.
He was accorded by the Queen the style and title of a Prince of the United Kingdom in February 1957.
The wedding, attended by an array of foreign kings and queens, captured the public imagination in the austere post-war days of November 1947. The newly-weds were called the Fairy Princess and Prince Charming.
After honeymooning at Broadlands, Hampshire, home of Lord Mountbatten, and at Birkhall on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh stayed at Buckingham Palace until renovation of their new home, nearby Clarence House, was completed in 1949.
Philip's devotion to his wife was clear. His first ever private secretary Michael Parker, a friend from the Navy, revealed: 'He told me the first day he offered me my job that his job, first, second and last was never to let her down.'
Their first child, Charles, was born at Buckingham Palace in November 1948. Anne was born at Clarence House in August 1950. Ten years later, Andrew was born at Buckingham Palace in February 1960, as was Edward in March 1964.
Their first child, Charles, was born at Buckingham Palace in November 1948. Anne was born at Clarence House in August 1950. Ten years later, Andrew was born at Buckingham Palace in February 1960, as was Edward in March 1964. This picture was taken in 1968 at Windsor Castle
Philip's devotion to his wife was clear. They are pictured at a show at Olympia in Kensington, West London, in December 1952
The playful prince practises his bicycle polo technique in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, in 1964Philip resumed his naval career, attending the Royal Naval Staff College at Greenwich and in October 1949 was appointed First Lieutenant and second-in-command of HMS Chequers, operating from Malta.
Elizabeth joined him there at several stages between 1949 and 1951 and had an idyllic life on the Mediterranean island, relishing the relative privacy that living abroad offered them.
Promotion to Lieutenant-Commander followed in July 1950 and in September, Philip was given command of the frigate HMS Magpie, which he said were the happiest days of his sailor life.
He was eventually promoted to Commander in June 1952 and to Admiral of the Fleet in January 1953. His other service appointments were Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.
Because of increasing anxiety about the King's health, the Duke was expected to take a share of royal engagements.
Princess Elizabeth and Philip made their first major tour together to Canada and the United States in October and November 1951, after which the Duke was made a Privy Counsellor.
No comments: