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How Prince Philip’s Life Was Upended When Elizabeth Became Queen
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Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who have been married for greater than 70 years, can boast of the longest marriage in British royal historical past. Their love story, which first started when a 13-year-old Elizabeth developed a crush on her older third cousin, lasted by way of Elizabeth’s duties as queen, in addition to Philip’s want to regulate to life as her consort. Whether or not they have been coping with pushy royal courtiers, dynastic title squabbles or press scrutiny and scandal, they managed to stay a united entrance.
Elizabeth was smitten with Philip since she was an adolescent
Princess Elizabeth encountered Prince Philip of Greece, her third cousin, a few occasions earlier than love struck. They each attended the 1934 marriage of his cousin to Elizabeth’s uncle, and have been current for the coronation of Elizabeth’s father, George VI, in 1937. But it surely wasn’t till July 1939 {that a} 13-year-old Elizabeth was captivated with an 18-year-old Philip, who was then a naval cadet.
Whereas the royal household was visiting the Royal Naval School, Philip was one of many few wholesome cadets amidst an outbreak of mumps and chickenpox. He was chosen to maintain Elizabeth and her youthful sister, Princess Margaret, firm (doubtless because of some behind-the-scenes pushing from his uncle Louis “Dickie” Mountbatten). In response to Marion Crawford, governess to the 2 princesses, Philip impressed Elizabeth along with his capability to leap over tennis nets.
The subsequent day Philip joined the royal household on their yacht, Victoria and Albert, for lunch. A younger Elizabeth continued to admire him as he ate copious quantities of shrimp, adopted by a banana break up. Crawford would relate that Elizabeth could not take her eyes off Philip, although at that time the older teen did not reciprocate her emotions.
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The pair saved their engagement a secret for a 12 months
Elizabeth and Philip wrote to one another after World Struggle II broke out (Philip served within the British Royal Navy). After they met at Windsor Fort for Christmas in 1943, Philip acquired to see the long run queen carry out in a pantomime of Aladdin, and observers witnessed indicators of a blossoming romance. Elizabeth saved his photograph on her mantel, whereas Philip carried her image with him in the course of the conflict.
The romance continued in peacetime, with outings similar to visits to the theater. In 1946 Philip requested Elizabeth to marry him; she agreed with out even searching for her dad and mom’ permission. Her father, understanding his daughter’s emotions however nervous about her age, requested them to attend a 12 months till Elizabeth was 21 earlier than publicly asserting the engagement.
Courtiers across the royal household have been much less welcoming. Although Philip was a royal who, like Elizabeth, might declare Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother, his life held extra tough spots than Elizabeth’s. A child when his household had been exiled from Greece, he was seen as international, poor and never exhibiting correct deference to the British royal household. However Elizabeth was decided to marry the person she wished, and her household had come to understand her fiancé. Their engagement was introduced on July 9, 1947.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II throughout their honeymoon at Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire
Picture: Topical Press Company/Getty Pictures
Philip had to surrender his titles so as to marry Elizabeth
Earlier than getting married, Philip gave up his titles and place within the line of succession to the Greek throne. He was naturalized as a British citizen and have become Philip Mountbatten (he’d used no surname as a prince). He was additionally confirmed within the Church of England. And he agreed to not invite his sisters to the marriage (wartime recollections have been nonetheless recent and all three have been married to Germans).
Because of his father-in-law George VI, on his marriage ceremony day of November 20, 1947, Philip acquired the titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich. His marriage ceremony day was additionally the day he gave up smoking, a call he made as a result of Elizabeth abhorred her father’s cigarette habit.
On her honeymoon, Elizabeth wrote to her dad and mom that she and her new husband “behave as if we had belonged to one another for years! Philip is an angel.” In 1949, Elizabeth joined Philip in Malta after he was named second-in-command of a destroyer (their new child, Prince Charles, remained in England with a nanny and his grandparents).
Philip ‘tried to make the very best of it’ when Elizabeth was topped sooner than anticipated
Philip was subsequent given command of his personal ship, however in 1951 he went on depart from the Navy. His father-in-law’s well being was declining and assist was required with royal obligations. In 1952, Elizabeth’s father died and she or he grew to become Queen Elizabeth II. This modification got here sooner than anticipated, as George VI was simply 56 when he handed away.
Ascending to the throne meant that Elizabeth took on royal duties she’d spent years making ready for. However Philip needed to regulate to being his spouse’s consort, similar to needing to stroll a number of steps behind her in public. He later admitted, “I assumed I used to be going to have a profession within the Navy, however it grew to become apparent there was no hope.… There was no alternative. It simply occurred. It’s a must to make compromises. That is life. I accepted it. I attempted to make the very best of it.”
After Elizabeth grew to become queen, Philip’s uncle Dickie Mountbatten declared, “The Home of Mountbatten now reigns.” But Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, and Winston Churchill, then the prime minister, didn’t agree. They spoke to the brand new monarch, who decreed that she and her descendants would rule because the Home of Windsor. An upset Philip stated to mates, “I’m the one man within the nation not allowed to provide his title to his personal kids. I’m nothing however a bloody amoeba.”
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip revisit Broadlands to mark their sixtieth marriage ceremony anniversary on November 20, 2007
Picture: Tim Graham/Getty Pictures
Rumors circulated that Philip was untrue
A few of Philip’s actions, like his gentleman’s lunch membership and the excursions he took within the Nineteen Fifties on the royal yacht Britannia, led to hypothesis about potential infidelities. In 1957, The Baltimore Solar carried a narrative that stated he was “romantically concerned with an unnamed girl whom he met frequently within the West Finish condominium of a society photographer.” The palace adopted this report with a denial: “It’s fairly unfaithful that there’s any rift between the queen and the Duke.” The Crown suggests Philip was concerned with a Russian ballerina, however there’s little proof to help this.
Philip as soon as addressed the logistics of his conducting affairs, asking, “How might I? I’ve had a detective in my firm, evening and day, since 1947.” However Sarah Bradford wrote in her biography of Elizabeth: “For the reason that alleged ‘occasion woman’ affair within the mid-Nineteen Fifties, Philip has realized to hold on his flirtations and relationships in circles wealthy and grand sufficient to offer safety from the paparazzi and the tabloids.”
Regardless of the shut consideration paid to the royal household, no infidelity on Philip’s half has ever been confirmed. Nonetheless, certainty about Philip’s faithfulness appears unimaginable to pin down, one thing he acknowledges. In response to a royal cousin, Philip as soon as stated, “The best way the press associated it, I had affairs with all these ladies. I would as nicely have and bloody loved it.”
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II depart a Service of Commemoration for troops who have been stationed in Afghanistan on March 13, 2015, in London, England
Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Pictures
Elizabeth referred to as Philip ‘my energy’
In 1957, Elizabeth made her husband a Prince of the UK. And in 1960, she acknowledged his ongoing unhappiness about their kids not taking his title by deciding that their descendants might use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Nonetheless, her compromise solely went thus far, because the royal household would proceed to be often called the Home and Household of Windsor.
Lord Charteris, non-public secretary to the queen, as soon as stated, “Prince Philip is the one man on the planet who treats the queen merely as one other human being. He is the one man who can. Unusual as it might appear, I imagine she values that.” It is one cause why their love story resulted in such a long-lasting relationship.
Whereas celebrating their 50 years of marriage in 1997, Elizabeth lauded Philip: “He’s somebody who would not take simply to compliments however he has, fairly merely, been my energy and keep all these years, and I, and his complete household, and this and lots of different international locations, owe him a debt higher than he would ever declare, or we will ever know.”
