70 years of marriage is no easy feat, especially when you’re Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
In fact, the pair are the very first members of the British Royal Family to reach the platinum wedding anniversary.
Yet, on November 20 the royal couple will skip throwing a lavish party – and it’s all for good reason.
The couple became man and wife on November 20, 1947.
The romance spans seven decades.
A close confidant of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s told The Daily Mail that they couldn’t bear the idea of hosting a shin-dig after losing so many of their dear friends over the past few years.
But such a milestone still deserves a royal salute!
According to the report, Her Majesty and her Prince will have “no public festivities”, rather an intimate dinner party for their “a select group of their closest friends and family member.”
For those wondering what the public festivities could entailed – for their silver, golden and diamond anniversaries, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, had national services of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.
Margaret Rhodes was one of Queen Elizabeth’s eight bridesmaids during her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip.
Countess Mountbatten of Burma was a close friend of the family’s and Prince Charles’ godmother.
The Queen’s friend spoke to the The Daily Mail, explaining, “They feel they can’t top the golden and diamond wedding anniversaries and don’t particularly want to.”
“The Duke was knocked sideways by the loss of Brian McGrath (his former Private Secretary, who died last year aged 90) and one of his closest female friends, Anne Griffiths (the librarian, archivist and keeper of the royal secrets, who died in March aged 84).”
The royals also said goodbye to the Queen best friends, Elizabeth Longman and her cousin Margaret Rhodes, as well as Prince Philip’s cousin Countess Mountbatten.
“They also don’t want to be reminded of the many missing faces,” the friend explained to The Mail.
While Buckinghman Palace have no comment on what will happened behind closed doors on the actual day, they have confirmed there will not be any formal public celebrations.
Together they have four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren… Soon to be six!
The intimate gathering will no doubt be filled with love.
Over the past seven decades, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have shared a stunning romance, created a family with their four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Such a landmark achievement deserves some sort of recognition.
So the Palace will be releasing a range of commemorative souvenirs including a new biography profiling the couple, collector’s edition coins featuring their faces, and a music single, with the proceeds going to one of their chosen charities.
