The Queen’s life was turned upside down on April 9, 2021 when her husband of 73 years passed away.
Indeed the death of Prince Philip left the royal family and its legions of followers in mourning as the formidable Duke’s life and legacy was spotlighted across the world.
And while his genial nature, cheeky asides and his dedication for the environment are all things that he will be remembered by, it was his unique relationship with her Majesty The Queen that will always spring to mind first.
The royal couple said “I do” on November 20, 1947, in a glorious ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Their withstanding relationship was based on their mutual love and respect, but also a shared sense of humour – after all Prince Philip is notoriously funny.
As the man who stood behind and supported his Queen, Philip created a royal benchmark for amazing relationship goals.
In fact the Duke of Edinburgh “traipsed around” and joked that he was the “fella who belongs to Mrs Queen”, rather than being “professionally qualified in something.”
The mother-of-four was always very comfortable around her husband, with her former private secretary, Lord Charteris once admitting, “It is not unknown for the Queen to tell the Duke to shut up.”
Though there was a time when you wouldn’t get a peep out of her!
“You were so shy. I couldn’t get a word out of you,” Philip recalled of his meeting with Elizabeth in 1939.
After 50 years of marriage, Philip famously joked: “You can take it from me, the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance!” The following decade he laughed that, “the secret of a happy marriage is to have different interests.”
Joking aside, it is clear that it was the Prince’s utter devotion to his wife that was a backbone to their incredible partnership.
“My job first, second and last is never to let the Queen down,” he sweetly said previously.
Click through to gallery to look back at their incredible relationship, and the sweet moments they shared as the Queen celebrates her first anniversary without her husband.
The Queen
The Queen paid tribute to her late husband during her monumental Platinum Jubilee celebrations. When she surprised royal watchers by appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony on the third day of her festivities, to their delight, she wore a bright green coat and dress by Stewart Parvin – a significant nod to Prince Philip’s favourite colour.
The Queen
Upon closer inspection, it was confirmed she wore the outfit in honour of her husband because she had attached her black mourning pin to her matching hat.
The Queen
During The Queen’s recorded speech that played at Party at the Palace, she paid tribute to her “dear late husband.” She continued to speak highly of the “great pride” she has for him and the legacy he left behind — especially his work on environmental issues that Prince William now carries on in his duties.
“The impact of the environment on our human progress was a subject close to the heart of my dear late husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh,” she said.
“It is a source of great pride for me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them.”
Queen
On the eve of The New Millennium, Philip planted a rare kiss on his wife.
Philip
Ah! Young love. Even royals aren’t immune to its joys and wonderous trappings.
Queen Elizabeth
A small moment shared blissfully and caught magnificently on camera.
Queen
At the Service of Commemoration for troops stationed in Afghanistan, Philip kept a watchful and loving eye on his wife in 2015.
Philip
The held each other through the good and the bad.
Queen Elizabeth
As anyone married for decades can attest to, these two had a unique language that they could understand without the use of words.
Queen Philip
The way he looks at her… Even after decades of marriage, Prince Philip only ever had one Queen.
Philip Queen laughing
Laughing their way through life made for a wonderful marriage. Her Majesty’s Prince had her in giggles during a royal event.
Car
The pair were as merry as can be during Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2016.
70th anniversary victory
Always by her side, Prince Philip was The Queen’s number one confidante. Pictured here at the 70th anniversary of Victory over Japan day in London, the pair shared many sweet moments – we especially loved when the reigning monarch gave her husband a “knowing” look.
Laughing
Theirs was a love story that transcends time, fit for a fairy-tale. So what was their secret? “You can take it from me, the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance,” the 95-year-old Duke said.
Prince Philip talks about figuring out his role alongside The Queen
1947
The pair tied the knot in breath-taking ceremony on November 20, 1947. When Philip first met Elizabeth he recalled: “You were so shy. I couldn’t get a word out of you.”
kids
Queen Elizabeth may be the reigning monarch but she is also a wonderful mother, having raised four kids.
balcony
Prince Philip watched his wife fondly as she presented the world her darling boy, Prince Andrew for his first appearance on Buckingham Palace’s balcony at Trooping the Colour in 1961.
dancing
Dancing their way into wedded bliss. Philip spun his love on the dance floor. The stylish duo looked straight out of a movie!
Dancing 2
For the charismatic Prince, in a crowded room he only had eyes for his wife.
laughing 2
“The secret of a happy marriage is to have different interests,” Prince Philip previously said.
horse
Prince Philip’s utter devotion to his wife was a backbone to their incredible partnership. “My job first, second and last is never to let the Queen down.”
Young and old
Their withstanding relationship was based on their mutual love and respect and of course their shared sense of humour – proving that laughter is the best medicine!
