Alright, let’s talk about something truly fascinating. Did you know that Queen Elizabeth II and her beloved husband of 70 years, Prince Philip, were actually related before they tied the knot? Yeah, you read that right! The queen and Philip were second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark and his wife, Louise of Hesse-Kassel. And here’s another twist—they were also third cousins through Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Incredible, right? It’s like a royal family tree puzzle that’s been hiding in plain sight all these years.
The Early Days: When Royalty First Met
Now, let me take you back to 1934, when the then-young Princess Elizabeth first crossed paths with Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. It happened at the royal wedding of Philip’s cousin, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, to Elizabeth’s paternal uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent. Elizabeth was only eight years old at the time, and Philip was 13. But fate had other plans for these two. A few years later, in July 1939, they met again at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. By this point, Elizabeth was 13, and Philip was 18. She later admitted that she fell for him during this encounter, and the two began exchanging heartfelt letters, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most enduring royal romances in history.
Elizabeth and Philip on their 1947 wedding day.
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The Journey to Marriage: Overcoming Challenges
Fast forward to 1947, and after courting for eight years, Philip proposed to Elizabeth when she was just 21 years old. But their love story wasn’t without its challenges. The engagement sparked controversy because Philip didn’t have a strong financial standing and was born in Corfu, Greece, not England. Some of King George VI’s advisors didn’t think Philip was suitable for the future queen. As British author Marion Crawford once wrote, “Some of the King’s advisors did not think him good enough for her. He was a prince without a home or kingdom. Some of the papers played long and loud tunes on the string of Philip’s foreign origin.”
Preparing for the Throne and Marriage
In preparation for his marriage to Elizabeth, Philip made significant changes to his life. He renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles and adopted the name Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, taking on the surname of his mother’s British family. On November 20, 1947, the couple exchanged vows at London’s Westminster Abbey. The day before the royal wedding, Philip was bestowed the title of His Royal Highness Duke of Edinburgh by Elizabeth’s father, King George VI. Their wedding was a grand affair, watched by millions around the world, and in the years that followed, they welcomed four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.
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