As the world mourns the death of both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, there have been many comments made on the loyalty with which they served the country and the throne. Their service record was truly impeccable.
Their 73-year-long love story was an unusual one. After all, they first met when she was 13 years old and he was 18, starting his career in the Royal Navy. But over the years, they struck up a correspondence, which turned into a friendship, and eventually love bloomed. Elizabeth had always been smitten with Philip.
Queen Elizabeth loved just one man her whole life, and that's Prince Philip. Then-Princess Elizabeth first met the 18-year-old Royal Navy trainee, who was the Prince of Greece and Denmark and her third cousin. The 13-year-old quickly developed a crush and began writing to him as he served in World War II.
The two wouldn't have a chance to spend time together until 1946. He started visiting Buckingham Palace. He even apologized to Elizabeth for inviting himself to the palace in a letter that year. "Yet however contrite I feel, there is always a small voice that keeps saying 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' – well did I venture and I gained a wonderful time," he wrote.
That year, Philip asked King George VI for permission to marry Elizabeth. The royals had grown to like Philip but wanted to wait until Elizabeth was 21 years old. They kept their engagement secret for a year before going public in July 1947.
Elizabeth and Philip were married on November 20, 1947, and it was eventful for a lot of reasons. Philip was pulled over for speeding on his way to the rehearsal dinner. He told the officer, "I'm sorry officer, but I've got an appointment with the Archbishop of Canterbury."
The morning of the wedding, Elizabeth's tiara snapped. Yet for the little bumps in the road, the day was an overwhelming success that boosted morale as the country recovered from the war. At the wedding breakfast that morning, King George VI celebrated the genuine romance. "Our daughter is marrying the man she loves," he proclaimed.
From 1949 to 1951 the couple had the opportunity to enjoy their marriage abroad. They lived in Malta, where Philip was stationed with the Royal Navy. During that time, the couple welcomed Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
In 1952, Philip began his tenure as the longest-standing royal consort to a monarch when Elizabeth became Queen. He was 30 and she was 25. It was those years that were hardest on the couple as they adjusted to positions they thought they wouldn't hold for years to come while trying to raise their young family and sustain their marriage. There were numerous rumors of trouble, and even Philip himself occasionally lamented his position. Still, he never wavered from being by her side.
Doubts about the marriage were quieted when the couple added to their family again in 1960 and 1964. They welcomed two sons, Andrew and Edward. Philip found fulfillment in his work with various organizations and causes, as well as traveling the world at the Queen's side on various royal tours.
The couple made rare comments on their relationship while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1997.
"I think the main lesson that we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage," Philip said.
"It may not be quite so important when things are going well, but it is absolutely vital when the going gets difficult. You can take it from me that the queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance."
In her speech, Elizabeth doted on her husband:
"He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know."
As the years passed and Philip retired from public life, he continued as a constant source of advice and support for the Queen.
"Prince Philip is the only man in the world who treats the queen simply as another human being," Lord Charteris noted.
"He's the only man who can. Strange as it may seem, I believe she values that."
Much of Philip's last year was spent at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth in self-isolation. The slimmed-down staff gave the two more one-on-one time than they had in many years. Some of that time was spent contacting the extended family online, as so many families experienced.
"Both my grandparents [use Zoom]," Prince Harry revealed during an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden.
"We've Zoomed them a few times. They've seen Archie running around. My grandfather, instead of pressing 'Leave Meeting,' he just goes, [mimes abruptly closing the computer]."
As royal fans mourn Philip's death at 99 years old, they think too of how heavy the Queen's heart must have been. Losing the love of your life is agonizing in the best of circumstances, and the family has been struggling through the health crisis as it is.
