Also, they had been cousins — distant, however nonetheless cousins.
Married for practically 74 years, their royal matrimony weathered her unexpectedly early ascension to queen, after which his Royal Navy profession took a again seat to her duties as head of state — her weekly audiences with prime ministers, the gilded lifetime of the Sovereign.
Though the favored Netflix present “The Crown,” portrayed Prince Philip as unhappy in these early days, the reality is that “Prince Philip took on the unlikely role of champion to his wife and became both mother and father to their children, allowing the queen to deal with the requirements of her position,” in response to royal biographer Ingrid Seward’s 2018 book on their marriage.
“Even after seven decades,” Seward wrote, “the Queen’s face lights up when Philip enters a room.”
The first time they bear in mind laying eyes on one another was in 1939.
She was 13, prim and correct. He was 18 and unrefined — a dashing cadet at Britannia Royal Naval College. Europe was months away from being consumed by World War II.
Margaret Rhodes, the queen’s cousin, wrote in her 2011 autobiography, “The Final Courtesy,” that “Elizabeth was truly in love from the very beginning.”
During the conflict, the 2 exchanged letters. Philip served within the Royal Navy whereas she was shuffled from palace to palace as Britain was being bombed. She finally was settled together with her youthful sister, Margaret, at Windsor Castle.
Marion Crawford, who served as their governess, wrote in her memoir, “The Little Princesses,” that Elizabeth was smitten with Philip’s arresting blue eyes and Viking beauty.
But they waited till after the conflict to get engaged. When the crowds cheered their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 1947, neither of them anticipated she could be topped queen anytime quickly. Her father, King George VI, was in his early 50s. Philip, named Duke of Edinburgh, supposed to proceed his profession within the navy. But the king died 5 years into their marriage, and Elizabeth turned queen on the age of 25.
Philip was compelled to give up his naval profession. In 1992, he informed an interviewer, “I’d much rather have stayed in the navy, frankly.” He later referred to as his resignation “naturally disappointing.” By many accounts, there was actual stress within the marriage, and “The Crown” strongly hints that Philip was a serial cheater.
But he and Elizabeth endured, touring the world collectively and producing 4 kids, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. According to Tatler, which chronicles the lives of the British royals, he teased her in personal, calling her “Lilibet” and “Sausage.” Or sometimes just “Darling.”
He even bought Elizabeth a gift that scores of husbands through the years have gifted their wives — a washing machine.
“Philip was an avid homemaker,” Eade wrote.
But he was also a frustrated one. Philip did not like all the formality. He preferred carrying his own bag, making his own martinis and talking to people himself — not through memos or messengers. While he yearned to have his old military career back, royal observers have written, Philip eventually came to enjoy his role as Elizabeth’s sidekick.
If marriage is a constant give and take between husband and wife, so it was between the queen and her prince.
The queen’s job demanded she be a rigid traditionalist. But Philip was decidedly not a traditionalist in filling his royal duties.
He refused, Eade wrote, to have his speeches written by a committee of palace public relations officers. Instead, he wrote his personal or just spoke from the cuff, usually resulting in notable gaffes. Philip additionally nonetheless insisted on hanging out along with his previous buddies at golf equipment, which led to fixed rumors of infidelity.
But the unlikely marriage would survive Philip’s fierce independence.
One of the last public images of them together was on their 73rd anniversary last year.
They had been sitting collectively. Elizabeth, in a fairly mild purple costume. Philip in a swimsuit. They had been taking a look at handmade anniversary playing cards despatched to them by their great-grandchildren. They had been smiling — the queen and her prince, husband and spouse, proud grandparents.
